When you’re seeking the appropriate cover for an open trench or hole, the No. 1 answer to that question is “safety,” says Dave Balkan of Joseph L. Balkan Inc. Sewer & Water Main Specialists.
For decades, trench covers have been used often without regard for compliance issues. Having a cover that is properly secured, adequately load-rated, ramped and has a high visibility anti-skid surface, is in compliance for most cities and towns for a reason. Risking it by not using an appropriate cover in the correct way can result in injury or death, according to an Oxford Plastics spokesperson.
ACCESSIBILITY AND AESTHETICS
Another driving force is providing proper accessibility to pedestrians. Especially in public rights-of-way, accommodation must be made for persons with disabilities. This includes pedestrians using wheelchairs, pedestrians with vision loss, individuals with cognitive disabilities and older adults with limited mobility. Details matter, as a properly designed cover can enable safe wayfinding and independence.
Often, cold-patch asphalt is used around the perimeter of covers to ramps, but has proven problematic, says the spokesperson. “Cold patch doesn’t always adhere, shifting from position, no longer doing its intended job. Additionally, remnants of cold patch adhere to shoes, tracking into offices and homes.”
Aesthetics, especially in high-profile projects, is also creating demand. Project development requires consideration of aesthetic elements of public job sites. Although it’s still a construction site, the pursuit of visual appeal, cohesiveness and tidiness is a plus.
Money — the cost of a trench or hole cover — is another dominant determinant. The price of the cover is to be compared, but it’s the collective expense of a compliant cover that must be considered, according to Oxford Plastics. “The additional cost to ramp the edges, to apply the anti-skid high-visibility paint to the surface, and to bring in heavy equipment, sums up a more accurate cost comparison.”
THE OXFORD SOLUTION
For over 15 years, award-winning manufacturer Oxford Plastics has collaborated with utilities from around the world to develop a range of trench covers that meet high-efficiency, low-cost and safety requirements.
The LowPro 15/10 Driveway Cover is often used by utility contractors seeking a safe, easy-to-maneuver covering for driveway or sidewalk trench work. The LowPro 15/10 has a high-visibility, molded anti-slip surface with chamfered edging that grips the asphalt.
Designed in collaboration with National Grid, LowPro 15/10 is suitable for up to 3.5-ton vehicles over a 35-inch-wide trench, and pedestrians over a 47-inch-wide trench.
When a longer run of trench requires covering, LowPro 15/10 covers are butted together, then attached with an infill to create a flat surface suitable for pedestrians, bicycles and other types of personal transportation.
A cover weighs 93 pounds, allowing for easy transport and maneuvering by two people and removing the need for heavy lifting equipment.
In Balkan’s words, the LowPro 15/10 has “so many advantages that it has transformed our operation.” To hear testimony from Balkan, a New York City utility contractor who uses them every day, search “Composite Trench Cover Testimonial Balkan” on YouTube.
Oxford Plastics manufactures site safety solutions including barriers, road plates, trench covers, ground protection mats, temporary fence solutions and more. The range of covers and road plates address various load ratings and applications and are available to North American markets.
800-567-9182 | www.oxfordplasticsusa.com
info@oxfordplasticsusa.com
