Charcon Lightens Kerb Debate
Charcon is helping local authorities and contractors to comply
with the HSE’s new safe lifting legislation with a series of
seminars around the country.
Whilst most local authorities and their contractors are well
aware of the legislation, the HSE initiative encompasses measures
to minimise risk of injury from manual handling of heavy materials,
from mechanical handling solutions to use of lighter weight
products. Charcon’s seminar programme is designed to ensure that
anyone affected by the legislation is aware how these measures
relate to different projects and the various options available to
enable them to comply.
Charcon’s Product Manager, Ian Geeson said: “Contrary to recent
reports in the press it is not the case that manual handling of
kerbs is completely outlawed. After consultation with the industry,
the HSE has amended the legislation to allow for use of lighter
weight kerbs with a suitable risk assessment where heavy kerbs
can't be eliminated; typically spot repair and maintenance projects
with limited access or where volumes are particularly small. Whilst
it is acknowledged that mechanical handling will become by far the
most common method of kerb installation, the use of lighter weight
products provides a safer alternative where this is not possible
and also minimises changes to working practices.”
Charcon has devoted a significant amount of time and resource to
develop a range of options to assist the HSE in reducing injuries
associated with manual handling, with major contractors and local
authorities playing a significant role in the evolution of product
ideas. The result is the unique under 20kg K-lite
Lightweight Kerb which has the benefits of ease of handling,
the same profile as a standard kerb, no changes to working practice
and more products per load. Also available are accessories
including radius, dropper and crossing units.
In terms of performance, independent testing from Coventry
University has shown that two of Charcon’s K-lite
Lightweight Kerb will perform in situ in exactly the same way
as a full-length standard kerb. K-lite
Lightweight Kerb also meets British and European Standards for
both durability and performance.
Lightweight kerbs have already been used by Leicestershire,
Derbyshire and Caermarthenshire County Councils, City of Wakefield
Metropolitan District Council and Leeds City Council with over
100,000 having been installed to date in the UK.
Designers and contractors need to consider these guidelines in
relation to all hard landscaping products. Charcon therefore offers
a full range of paving flags under the 20kg weight. At the same
time there are a large proportion of concrete products that can
never be developed to achieve the weight reduction and, in these
cases, Charcon has worked with mechanical handling equipment
manufacturers to ensure that packaging design and product
configuration is such that products can be mechanically
handled.
In addition to providing a means of complying with the latest
HSE legislation, lighter weight products also have environmental
advantages such as a significant reduction in the amount of
material used in manufacturing and a reduction in transportation
around the country with significantly more product per load.
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