HITACHI excavators are boosting the safety credentials of the A6 dualling project in Northern Ireland.
Graham Farrans Joint Venture appointed RB McGeary Contracts as the main subcontractor for the specialist work on existing and new utilities involved in the upgrading of the A6.
“We use RB McGeary Contracts for their specialist skills and good safety management,” said project health and safety manager Robin Kirkpatrick. “It’s also good to see their fleet of new and well-maintained Hitachi machines on site. We obviously have a big emphasis on safety when it comes to plant working near pedestrians, so 360-degree vision around the equipment is vital to safeguard them.”
Ronnie McGeary, owner of RB McGeary Contracts added, “There is an element of risk in our work, but we follow a safe working practice and run Hitachi zero-tail swing machines. These are very precise, and for example have motion sensors, flashing beacons and hose rupture valves – and as a result we have an excellent safety record.
“The ZX33U-5 and ZX38U-5 are perfectly suited to our work. They provide the optimum digging depth and can be easily transported on our 7.5-tonne truck. We usually change our machines every three years and benefit from the strong second-hand values of Zaxis excavators.”
The £160 million project is designed to strengthen the links between Northern Ireland’s largest cities and bring long-term benefits of reduced journey times and improved safety to road users and the local community.
