Use Mirrors and Cameras to Eliminate Blind Spots on the Paving Crew

This week’s tip might seem simple on the surface, but it can make a life-and-death difference for personnel. You want to make sure every equipment operator on your crew has a clear line-of-sight for quality paving and compaction, but also to ensure no laborers or random pedestrians are struck by moving equipment. You want to give each operator more eyes to see.

• Have you checked the mirrors this morning to ensure they’re in good condition? You want to be sure no low-boy incidents or other strikes have left mirrors dangling (or missing) and you want to clean the mirrors so they serve their purpose.
• Have you installed enough mirrors that operators have a 360-degree-view around their equipment? Heavy magnets allow these safety elements to be added in short order until you and the mechanic can schedule downtime to weld brackets into place. (While directing mirrors can help your operator see various aspects of the paving process, you want to make sure you have enough for safety purposes.)
• Have you checked the back-up cameras on equipment this morning? Ensure they’re in working order with clean lenses and no cobwebs or debris blocking their view, thus your operator’s view. Ensure the signal is transmitting to a clean and visible display screen on the operator’s platform.

Multiple OEMs provide camera systems and sensors that alert the operator—and ground workers—when a person or obstruction is within striking distance. These alerts include everything from flashing lights to outlined images on the display screen to audible beeps and alarms. It’s all designed to help the operator “see” more because a blind operator is a dangerous operator. Give your operator more eyes this week and increase safety at your jobsite.

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