We've all seen it happen. A poorly set up hydrant installation goes badly and damages the hydrant, the worker or both. How do you safely handle a heavy hydrant on damp ground with improvised equipment? The simple answer is that you don't. Safety needs to come first, not last. Here are some tips on how to safely handle hydrants during installation or removal to best ensure the condition of the hydrant and the safety of the crew:
Many waterworks training workshops and seminars tend to rehash the same old information, which is why they're often so poorly attended. At Team EJP, we're committed to creating dynamic changes for the waterworks industry that lead to serious cost and time savings for your organization. For that reason, we've developed our own series of Know How seminars. These day-long seminars provide you with real information on changes in our industry. Industry leaders, waterworks officials, Team EJP experts and select vendor representatives give you the latest techniques, management processes and technology without all the hype. Here's a bit more on these valuable seminars - put them on your calendar today to get in on the 2017 seminar series:
In the beginning, PEP Transportation was founded by Peter Prescott with a single tractor trailer in 1980. Dedicated to provide water, sewer and drain product transportation throughout New England. As a sister company PEP saw a lot of demand based on their business with EJP. This lead to fast growth in PEP, requiring additional units to be brought online to keep up with demand.
With the prevalence of smart meters, Internet of Things sensors and the advent of the digital workflow, there's no doubt that technology in waterworks is here to stay. But how do you coordinate all the separate pieces to work together effectively? Many businesses, organizations and waterworks departments have begun to implement the Trimble Unity platform to improve their connectivity and efficiency, but still have questions about which apps should be used with the software to make it even more effective. Towards that end, we've written a review on AFC Mapper, which helps bridge construction, mapping and maintenance workflows to improve your crew's efficiency in the field.
Whether you work in an industrial complex or a municipality's waterworks division, OSHA regulations are in play to ensure a safe workplace. But what about when you're working in a manhole accessed services corridor or vault? What about spaces with limited access that have potential to become dangerous because of conditions in the area? OSHA has specific regulations for workers in confined spaces, permit required spaces and in retrieval planning. Here are a few things to keep in mind when working in these situations.
When you have culverts that are beginning to fail but don't have the time or resources to reroute traffic, dig up the existing culvert and replace it, what are your options? One option you may not have considered are PPF services. By slip lining your existing culvert, you can get the best of both worlds, as your culvert is rehabilitated without the extra expense and headache of digging up and replacing the old one. Here are some details on how the process works:
In our industry, trench safety is something often discussed but just as often ignored. It's actually both the most dangerous part of our job and the most often cited OSHA violation. In the interest of moving the project ahead, precautions may not be taken that should be, and that can cause injury or death. At Team EJP, we take excavation safety very seriously. Though the OSHA standard can be a bit weighty to dig through, we've taken the time to draw up some basics that will help you through most excavations.
With the current focus on environmental stewardship and green construction, many companies and municipalities are looking at ways they can reduce stormwater runoff from their networks and facilities. One big area that is a concern with stormwater is paving. Because pavement covers a large area and prevents the rainwater from soaking into the ground, it causes some serious problems with storm sewers and erosion. But if ground is left unpaved, either as turf or as a gravel road or lot, it can quickly become damaged, rutted and muddy, causing more problems. Cellular confinement systems provide an excellent opportunity to combine storm water infiltration with a stable driving and parking system. Let's take a look in what situations cellular confinement systems work best:
Anyone who has ever worked on a mechanical system has a dirty little secret - sometimes we don't have the time or resources to use the right tool. We get the job done, but sometimes it's at the cost of replacement parts, injuries or damaged pride. I don't know about you, but my damaged pride usually comes to light when my other half comes to see how things are going and catches me doing something really stupid! The additional time I spend or the money I need to invest in replacement parts is often higher than it would have been to just get the right tool in the first place. There's a reason why there are a million specialty tools out there, one for each and every job we seem to come across that requires something a little more. Here's why:
When winter's chill is gone, it's time to take it easy, freed from the issues winter brings to any waterworks system. But before you start to relax, have you considered what maintenance needs to be performed on your hydrants this spring? Here's our look at what maintenance tasks need to be undertaken before your hydrants are ready for the hot summer time.
