The costs of adhering to new and changing safety regulations, maintaining up-to-date protective equipment and covering employee injuries are increasingly burdensome for many companies, including those in the refractory installation business. This isn’t to say that injury prevention is not extremely important, but instead that many businesses are taking the wrong, and often more expensive, approach.

Employees installing refractory in an industrial furnace or kiln can be exposed to safety hazards and long-term health risks at their job sites. The cost of protecting employees – especially those new to the industry – can add up quickly. A recent initiative, Prevention through Design, is working to reduce injuries, improve worker safety and lower long-term costs before refractory machinery, including shotcrete mixer/pumps, ever hit the market.

Understanding PtD

Prevention through Design, or PtD, is an approach to equipment design that considers all hazards that could put workers at risk, including carelessness, distractions and inexperience. Because those considerations take place before the equipment is built, safety features can be tested and refined before the product ever goes to market. When applied properly, PtD results in substantial savings for refractory installation companies through lower employee turnover and fewer injuries. 

Shotcrete equipment manufacturers implementing PtD do so by emphasizing worker safety throughout the entire design and manufacturing process. Engineers, managers and assembly workers are all encouraged to speak up if they spot a potential safety hazard. 

With high-pressure shotcrete and gunite machinery, fast-moving materials, powerful pumps and hydraulic systems present potential hazards on a daily basis while, at the same time, noise, heavy lifting and air contaminants can result in long-term health problems if not properly addressed in the design stages.

While safety regulations are in place to protect workers and provide standards with which manufacturers must comply, manufacturers choosing to embrace PtD go above and beyond industry standards. In many cases, this prevents injuries and adverse long-term health complications. Rather than relying on personal protective equipment to bridge gaps between equipment functionality and safety regulations, some manufacturers take things a step further, factoring in functionality, operating expenses and customer preferences to design safe, user-friendly equipment. At times this even involves engineers working hands-on with equipment at job sites, gaining end-user perspectives that can help advance product designs.

Fewer injuries, and in many cases the elimination of high-priced PPE, can add up to huge savings over the life of a new machine – leading more and more companies to take a close look at manufacturers that implement PtD.

PtD for Pumps

When it comes to shotcrete and gunite pumps for refractory installation, power is paramount for moving high-viscosity shotcrete materials. High-quality, well-built machines do the job, but not every manufacturer designs machines with safety considered just as important as productivity.

Some installers still use ball valve pumps, which are not reversible. When a hose or line becomes plugged, it can be difficult to release pressure from the material conveying system. The absence of clear safety protocols can result in unexpected and dangerous high-pressure releases and even explosive material occurring at connections in the conveying system or pump discharge. The increased possibility of injury to field personnel compromises their well-being and creates additional risks and exposure for all involved. Accidents will also impact production on the site, increasing costs. For this reason, reversible squeeze tube or piston pumps are ideal. These options prevent hazardous situations and reduce equipment downtime if a line does become plugged.

PtD for Dust

As OSHA’s air contaminant and silica dust regulations become more and more restrictive, many refractory installers are forced to rely on expensive protective gear to be in compliance, and the additional costs can add up. For example, full-face respirators typically cost as much as $500. For a contractor required to provide respirators for 100 employees, the cost can easily exceed $50,000. That price tag shot up even higher when new OSHA regulations required those same employees switch from full-face respirators to enclosed head gear, which can cost as much as $2,500 – quintupling the cost.

Many of these expenses may be avoided with equipment designed to dramatically reduce air impurities. Manufacturers embracing PtD are developing solutions to protect individuals working with industrial mixer-pumps, taking the onus off employers. Contaminants enter the air when workers dump 50-pound bags of material into the mixer. This billowing dust can easily be eliminated with the use of specially designed 500-pound bulk bags. By adding a dust shroud to traditional bulk bags, the material can be moved into place with a forklift, and a quick tightening of the shroud around the hopper opening will create a seal that prevents the dust from escaping as the bottom of the bag slices open over the machine.

When the dust settles, this design and practice may reduce the need for expensive breathing apparatuses as well as prevent injuries and strains that result from repeatedly lifting 50-pound bags – 10 of which would be needed to equal a single bulk bag.

PtD for Hopper Systems

PtD is achieved in a number of ways. One approach includes working with equipment in the field to develop a better understanding of day-to-day equipment operations. Manufacturers that embrace this approach are more likely to stumble upon simple solutions to problems they didn’t know existed, such as routine maintenance being skipped because of poor accessibility.

For example, the pump, lower valve box and other systems should be inspected and serviced before each job to ensure everything is in top working condition. Skipping this step can lead to equipment failure and costly downtime.

PtD has led one manufacturer to design a hopper system that swings out of the way, providing safe and hassle-free access to the lower valve box, wash box, sensor locations, flat pack and pump system. This hopper design eliminates the need for technicians to strain and contort themselves into uncomfortable positions between the hopper, frame and hydraulic lines to complete routine maintenance.

In addition to improved access, the design eliminates pinch points, reduces the risk of cuts and sprains, and minimizes opportunities for workers to hit their heads. Configuring equipment with ease-of-access in mind also reduces the likelihood of contractors skipping important maintenance steps altogether.

PtD Considers All the ‘Little Things’

PtD also leads manufacturers to make minor alterations to designs that, collectively, result in equipment that is both safe and more user-friendly.

While automatic shut-off switches on pumps are now a standard safety feature, they become ineffective when aging switches begin to malfunction or when material buildup interferes with proper operation. Malfunctioning switches force operators to manually reset and restart the mixer-pump. In some cases, operators simply bypass the old contact switches altogether, eliminating any safety benefits. Some manufacturers have addressed this problem by using noncontact limit switches. These switches, even with material buildup, stop and start everything with the opening and closing of the grating.

Another regulation that shotcrete and gunite equipment manufacturers can make less burdensome for contractors is noise. By designing machines that are compliant with noise regulations for eight-hour shifts, workers are able to limit their use of noise-reducing headgear. That PtD feature prevents hearing-loss claims from employees who don’t follow proper PPE standards.

PtD extends beyond the equipment. Many third-party trailers aren’t designed specifically for mixing and pumping applications and the corresponding safety considerations. A lot of shotcrete and gunite machine manufacturers produce their own trailers, but not all of them do so with the same goal in mind.

One may develop units with cutting manufacturing costs as the main driving force. So, on the surface, the trailers appear to fit the needs of the contractor, but over time the trailers’ lack of high-quality construction affect their integrity and longevity. Other shotcrete and gunite machine manufacturers, on the other hand, design and produce trailers with the goal of suiting the unit to its pump. They include reinforcements wherever necessary, so the trailer is more durable and lasts longer. Manufacturers choosing this route are also more likely to choose heavy-duty steel, use durable welds and incorporate a sturdy axle that is properly aligned and balanced. Contractors need equipment that can be safely and conveniently transported at highway speeds, and having a well-constructed trailer with an axle rated for highway use reduces the odds of a dangerous incident.

A well-built mixer-pump will also have minimal sharp edges, rough surfaces, pinch points and potential fall hazards to reduce the risk of cuts, abrasions, burns and head injuries. When it comes to sawing, welding and fabricating equipment parts, a little extra attention on the manufacturer’s part can eliminate sharp, abrasive edges and surfaces. Designs should also take into account worker heights to minimize strain. Not all workers are 5-foot-10 inches, and machines shouldn’t be designed as if they are.

Machines with adequate platforms and wide walkways provide room for workers to move freely and, in some cases, have space for multiple people. High-quality diamond plate grating, sturdy ladders and ample railings can also go a long way toward enhancing safety. When equipment is being manufactured, many of these factors can be overlooked or simply ignored to keep the process moving forward without causing delays and adding costs. Not with PtD.

Conclusion

Reducing hazards through smart designs is one of the most effective solutions for preventing injuries, reducing the need for protective gear and staying one – if not two or three – steps ahead of regulatory standards. Cautions, warnings, yellow paint and protective equipment are standard with most industrial equipment. However, designing out hazards is becoming an equally popular (and more effective) method for reducing the risk of injury. Over time, this makes equipment less expensive to own and operate.

Ultimately, it’s tough to argue with equipment that’s designed to protect workers by preventing safety hazards. Saving money is just an added bonus.

For more information: Blastcrete Equipment LLC, 2000 Cobb Ave., Anniston, AL 36201; 800-235-4867; fax 256-236-9824; info@blastcrete.com; www.blastcrete.com