Posted By Dan dan Do the forum have any comments on this subject. I am in the belief that lifting or moving steel road plates with mini diggers, (plate wedged between the bucket and stability blade), whilst is common practice, should not be happening. Simply because the digger is not a lifting appliance - What is the forums view on the subject and what would they suggest as a suitable alternative method (particular scenario working in a culd-e-sac with limited access to HIAB)

Posted By Stuart Nagle Having been in at the start of the NRSWA before Professor Michael Horne (now sadly deceased) presented his [The Horne] report, it was as far as I can recall then, and so far as I am aware today, the intention of the NRSWA that utilities would not open more public highway (carriageway, footway or verge) than could be safely managed and reinstated whilst on site, unless the site was continually occupied in accordance with permission granted by the responsible Highway Authority. The NRSWA Code of Practice, as originally drawn up by HAUC (Highways And Utilities Committee), did not consider the use of 'road plates' a sound method of the management of excavations, as they may effect safety and offer the option of excavations being left open - when they should be reinstated on a perm or temp basis as per the NRSWA. The correct management of excavations is, for example in a road crossing where a traffic lane has to remain open, to occupy one traffic lane, excavate, carry out the work, reinstate that side and then move to the opposite side, again leaving one traffic lane open (and employ traffic management), Not leave one side open with steel road plates over the excavation whilst the other side is then excavated!! Whilst I appreciate that you will state that you all live in real world, I would say this... The NRSWA was many years in the forming, with the best minds of the day from both highways and utilities involved and concerned with drawing up the CoP and arranagements that were put into place to replace the old PUSWA (Public and Utilities Street Works Act - or Blue Book as it was known), forming best practice and safety in the management of Street Works. I personally found that the use of the 'road plate' became prevelent through contractors carrying out work and taking on more than they could satisfactorilly achieve in the course of a day (failure to reinstate the work done) and has escalated in recent years to become the norm, although in a great many cases an unacceptable temporary measure, as they now seem to be 'bunged - down' everywhere, clattering all night under ttrafficking, creating a nuisance generally as they move, tip, puncture tyres, bounce and hit the bottom of vehicles and of course have little or no skid resistance. What we should really be addressing is getting back to a level of highways engineering that is carried out prudently, effectively and efficiently in accordance with the NRSWA and not leaving excavations open simply because its prudent for the contractor to do so (cheap and quick fix), regardless of the preffered and agreed methods that should be employed. In many instances, I agree road plates' do have their uses, such as in areas of carriageway that are in possesion of the utility company during prolonged works, however in most they are simply an ad-hoc quick-fix for the contractor that Highways Authorities accept too readilly. Personally I have seen these plates employed for many weeks on sites for no apparent reason other than the failure of the utility company and contractors to reinstate their excavations in a timely manner. In respect of moving such 'lumps of metal' I agree that this can be problematic, as can simply getting 'lifting eyes' 'd-rings' of 'chain-hooks' etc onto them (some are pretty large, thick and very heavy, and without considerable effort (and risk of injury) by site personnel involved in prying with bars (e.g. two guys pushing down on a 1.5m crow bar) whilst another ties to connect them to lifting equipment by hand without loosing their fingers... Lorry loaders and lorry mounted grabs are often used to deliver, off-load and position on-site, which are classified as lifting equipment (Cranes), however I have yet to see a sheet marked with it's weight!! However, as most of this type of work can be accomplished (one way or another!!) fairly quickly and cheaply, it actually creates the opportunity and mentality that their use is OK, even preferred... It is not, it's dangerous, and is not best practice when it comes to the NRSWA. I would like to see the use of this type of trench protection limited, and proper reinstatement methods and adherance to the NRSWA more widely practiced. Stuart

Posted By Chris Pope Dan, I wonder how many of us have moved steel items using a mini digger. I have and it is a versatile tool, which greatly minimises manual handling. Some road plates are so heavy that just prising them up and getting the 4 hooks into the eyes is less than fun. I think this is possibly a case of ensuring that a digger driver is a competent person. If he is he won't have other people near him when he tries a tricky operation. As for LOLER it makes allowance for generic lifts such as those made by a forklift to be carried out with a generic risk assessment and planning carried out by the man sitting in the driver's seat. However if there are actual accident statistics arising from this practice then I would suggest we do need to re think, as long as all of this is kept in proportion and we don't end up making the workers carry out very poor lifting practices at ground level without good reason.