01.02.2019

Why worry about traffic?

Spotted in Glasgow, Scotland, a truck mounted lift being used in the road with no attempt to warn traffic or protect it from being clipped by a passing truck of bus.

In the words of our correspondent: “I came across these absolute idiots on Dumbarton Road in Glasgow. Normally I don’t get involved, but given how far over the boom was sticking out and the fact double decker buses operate on this route and an artic missed them by millimetres, I pulled over to point the risks out to them.”
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Set up in heavy traffic

“I mentioned two accidents that occurred locally last year and how one person was killed, only to be told to ‘mind my own business’ and that they were just finishing.”

“Powered access safety on sites these days I would is pretty high, but I very rarely see a van mount working at the side of the road with correct safety procedures in place, honestly it amazes me how more people aren’t killed.”

This sums up the situation very and there is little that we can add, apart perhaps from noting that in addition to the lack of cones or barriers, the operator has not bothered with outrigger mats either, in spite of locations like this having uncertain ground bearing pressures, with a high chance of underground voids.
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No cones, no barriers, and no outrigger mats

Hopefully someone involved, or better still responsible, for this work will see this article and do something about it before someone is killed. Any such incident affects far more than the idiot responsible – it might be a pedestrian, or the driver of a passing vehicle, while witnesses can be traumatised by the mess created. Definitely one for our Death Wish series.

Have a safe weekend.