GPSJ Autumn 2024 ONLINE - Flipbook - Page 10
GPSJ
ROADS & HIGHWAYS
SHIMPAC® | Enhancing Roadworker
Safety: Easy-to-Install Solutions for
Long-Term Performance
Roadwork projects play a
vital role in maintaining and
improving our infrastructure.
However, the safety of
roadworkers is often
compromised due to the
inherent risks associated
with working in close
proximity to moving vehicles.
However, this isn’t the only
very real threat to operative
safety.
In recent years, there has been
a growing concern about the
abuse faced by roadworkers
from the public. To address
these issues, it is crucial to
implement easy-to-install
solutions that not only enhance
road safety but also reduce the
exposure of roadworkers to
potential harm.
The Importance of Easy-toInstall Solutions…
When it comes to protecting
roadworkers, time is of the
essence.
The installation process for
products should be as quick and
hassle-free as possible. Easyto-install solutions significantly
reduce the time spent on-site
for operatives, minimising their
exposure to the public. By
streamlining the installation process,
roadworkers can focus more
on their primary tasks, ensuring
efficiency while reducing the
potential for accidents and abuse.
There is only so much control
contractors and authorities can
assert over the public, and so
focusing on overall level of exposure
could be the real key. We hear
about the danger of the peopleplant interface on highways sites,
but could it now be time to look at
how we reduce the people-people
interface?
Long-Term Performance
While quick installation is essential,
it can’t be at the cost of an effective
solution. It is important to consider
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the long-term performance of safety
solutions from an asset life cycle
perspective, protecting budgets
with decreased repair costs
However, products that require
frequent maintenance, repairs, or
replacement can lead to increased
exposure for roadworkers. At this
point, the risk of abuse returns. The
more frequently a solution fails, the
more potential for operatives to face
abuse during repairs.
Opting for high-quality, durable
solutions can help minimise
these risks and provide sustained
protection over an extended period.
Reducing Exposure
The less time roadworkers
spend on site, the less exposed
they are to the public. It’s very
simple; By implementing easyto-install solutions with longterm performance capabilities,
roadworker safety is inherently
enhanced.
This decrease in exposure helps
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL AUTUMN 2024
create a safer working environment
and promotes better overall wellbeing for roadworkers.
The Role of Performance and
Usability
Although not all products directly
address roadworker abuse, their
performance, efficiency, and
usability can indirectly contribute
positively.
Improved efficiency in these areas
ultimately reduces frustration among
drivers, decreasing the likelihood of
abusive behaviours.
Quality & correct training means
installations are quicker and cause
less disruption, and in turn leads
to right-first-time installations. This
in turn leads to reduced need for
more frequent repair. Reducing the
people-people interface.
Ironwork: The solution
SHIMPAC®’s Roadshims, a
pioneering solution for ironwork
seating, has been specifically
developed with the factors of
efficient installation, durability, and
longevity in mind. Recognising the
broader impact of these benefits
on the safety and wellbeing of
roadworkers, SHIMPAC®® is
dedicated to delivering enhanced
protection against potential abuse
throughout the UK.
SHIMPAC® understands that
the significance of its products
goes beyond its technical features.
By providing roadworkers with
reliable and robust solutions,
SHIMPAC® contribute to creating
a safer working environment. When
roadworkers can increase overall
efficiency of roadwork projects, its
leads to smoother traffic flow and
reduced frustration among drivers.
Consequently, this decreases the
likelihood of abusive behaviours
directed towards roadworkers,
ensuring their wellbeing and
fostering a more harmonious
relationship between roadworkers
and the public.
