Contractors World UK & Ireland Vol 4 No 4

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What’s New - Plant & Equipment
Page 35 Contractors World UK & Ireland Vol 4 No 4
The construction industry is becoming more and
more concerned about the health risks associated
with hand-arm vibration, and various directives
have been issued to minimise the risk.
These directives restrict the amount of vibration
an operator can be exposed to. The effect of this is
to make relatively simple jobs extremely time con-
suming.
So any contractor that is involved in concrete
drilling, breaking, etc will immediately see a benefit
in a device that virtually eliminate vibration.
One possible solution is that provided by the
Canadian company, RNP Industries, which is now
available in the UK through STM in Hertfordshire.
The drilling and breaking machine has been de-
signed to minimise the problem of hand/arm vibra-
tion when operating air powered hammers, chisels,
rock drills, scabblers and diamond core drills.
The Positioner-Actuator-Manipu-
lator unit (PAM) allows an operator to
greatly increase the time that a tool
can be safely used by having it firmly
secured to an air over hydraulic pow-
ered, two-piece arm which almost
completely isolates vibration from the
PAM’s hand controls.
Typical vibration levels are just 2.5
to 2.7 m/s². These low figures have
been achieved by a combination of
the tool carrier being suspended from
a free-moving knuckle joint and an
under- mounted air ram which, at the
push of a button, forces the tool onto the work
point.
Contractor Puts PAM to the test
On a recent job to repair a pair of concrete bridge
abutments in Watford town centre, Kent based,
Top Bond plc ,was able to complete all the concrete
removal work in just two days, rather than the
originally calculated two weeks.
This dramatic time reduction resulted from the
PAM machine’s ability to be used continuously.
Hand held electric breakers would have required
severely restricted working times due to the opera-
tors exposure to HAV.
Because the full weight of the tool being used is
carried by the two piece arm, the PAM is very easy
to use on both walls and ceilings using tools weigh-
ing up to 16 kg.
The unit is mounted on four castors to enable
it to be pushed into position prior to applying the
brake and deploying three adjustable support legs.
Weighing only 525 kg without a tool in place,
the machine can be easily transported in a typical
high roof 3.5 tonne van. The size and weight also
means that it can work effectively at height when
positioned on a scissor lift or mast climbing work-
platform.
Compact dimen-
sions alsomeans that
it can pass through
small opening for
working inside build-
ings or other restrict-
ed areas.
•
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Improve Productivity
by Minimising Hand-
Arm Vibration