Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Cement manufacturer Lafarge Cement has developed a ground-breaking technology for its road haulage fleet to improve safety for drivers.
The new technology allows drivers of its 130 articulated lorries to couple up air and electrical lines from ground level, instead of having to climb onto vehicle platforms to couple up trailers.
Andrew Brodley, transport manager at Lafarge Cement says: “Across Lafarge Cement’s UK operations it was calculated that during the coupling of semi-trailers there were approximately 900 ‘falling from height’ near misses each year. By designing our new trailer technology, drivers are not required to work at height, therefore we eliminated the falling from height risk for our employees.”
Because there is no requirement for vehicle body access equipment, the overall weight of the vehicle is reduced, allowing the lorry to carry more in a single load and reducing the fleet’s overall CO2 emissions.
