Kent County Council
With major contractors and local authorities playing a
significant role in the evolution of product ideas, Charcon has
devoted a significant amount of time and resource in developing the
K-lite range to meet the HSE objectives of reducing injuries
associated with manual handling.
Site:
Various
Client:
Kent County Council
Contractor:
Ringway
Products used:
K-lite Lightweight Kerb
Canterbury Highway Unit, part of the Kent Highways Partnership,
in consultation with the HSE, embarked on a trial to assess the
relative merits of a lightweight product and mechanical handling
solutions in terms of cost, practicality and ease of use.
The result was K-lite Lightweight kerb, developed and
manufactured by Charcon and weighing less than 20kg, it helps local
authorities and their contractors comply with the legislation in
relation to risk minimisation. K-lite minimises weight by
incorporating a frog at the rear and shortening the length. The
light weight was achieved without any loss of strength.
The first trial site was a 70m long footway strengthening
scheme, including kerbing and footway reconstruction. This was
followed by a second, more comprehensive trial on a larger site in
Whitstable, using both lightweight kerb and mechanical handling,
enabling direct comparisons to be made. A clear outcome was the
cost benefit of a lightweight kerb, due to higher productivity
during installation, and the reduced costs of hiring or purchasing
mechanical handling equipment.
The HSE states that, wherever possible, manual handling of kerbs
should be avoided. This is not always possible, for example where
road closure would be impractical, or for small works such as the
installation of a pedestrian traffic refuge. In these cases, the
use of lighter weight product provides a safer alternative as well
as minimising changes to working practices.
“Working together with Charcon, Ringway and the HSE was a key
factor in achieving a good model for dealing with the manual
handling issue. Lightweight kerbs are an essential part of the tool
kit for working on a live highway.”
David Latham, Principal Engineer, Canterbury
Highway Unit