Just in time for the upcoming surface dressing season, Kier Highways Solutions will be deploying four new road emulsion sprayers
Kier’s new fleet of road emulsion sprayers have low-entry cabs with direct vision technology – improving visibility, reducing blind spots and improving safety for operators and road users.
The Eden Sprayers have innovative cabs with a two-step entry design which allows operatives to move both forwards and upwards, removing the need for a ladder. Ladders are commonplace on road emulsion sprayers and so it is hoped that the two-step entry will reduce the risk of falling.
To further improve safety, the design includes electronics to monitor tyre pressures and wheel nut tightness. Additionally, there are hand lances in place of watering cans for spraying in tight places, mitigating risks of burns and muscular strain.
In an effort to improve efficiency Kier has abandoned the rear gantries in the new road emulsion sprayers. This removes the need for an additional operative to be at the back of the vehicle and reduces the operator’s exposure to high decibels from the engine and exposure to fumes.
Radar sensors will automatically control the spray bars. For areas of poor visibility, the spray bar can be controlled by an operator from outside the cab via a handheld device – reducing exposure to risks even further.
Two of the four sprayers will be starting works in May, with the remaining two sprayers expected to start works in July.
‘We’ve listened and this investment shows how we will put safety, as well as that of our supply chain and customers, first’
Lee Draper, general manager at Kier Highways Solutions, made the following comments:
“We couldn’t have done this without our people, who contributed opinions and ideas ultimately led to these innovations coming to life.
“Through discussing the requirements with our sprayer operators, we were able to specify a product that meets the operators’ needs and improves safety. The operators’ requirements formed the final tender specification.”
“We’ve listened and this investment shows how we will put safety, as well as that of our supply chain and customers, first. It also demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement for our fleet and raising safety standards within the surface treatments industry.”
