When you’re on the job, you don’t necessarily have a ton of time to chase down details like “where’s the water for the plate compactor” or “where’s the release agent for the shovels” and the like. Someone needs to be responsible for keeping track of the basics that keep equipment working right so you aren’t running around like chickens with your heads cut off while the clock’s ticking on the perishable material underfoot.
Let’s take a minute to look at the auxiliary equipment. If the typical plate compactor in your equipment arsenal holds 3 gallons of water, a 5-gallon jug will take care of one complete fill and a partial refill. That’s easy math. To keep the 5-gallon jug available, it has to move with the compaction team.
Anyone who’s operated the plate compactor knows it’s not the easiest device to “take back” to the water truck for a refill. Do you have a large enough crew that you can designate a laborer to carry random gallons of water to and from ancillary equipment throughout the day? If that doesn’t sound like the most efficient use of an hourly employee, you could instead arrange to have water immediately available to the equipment that requires it for optimum operation.
Which member of your team is most likely to use the plate compactor? If that’s your finish roller operator, then your finish roller deck is the most logical place to house the water jug. Another tip is to label this container, so all personnel know it carries non-potable water.
What ideas can your crew share for keeping water within reach? Maybe this is a quick discussion to get the crew talking and awake during today’s tailgate talk.