Highways Magazine: Why embracing technology is crucial in protecting workers health and wellbeing 

Technology is at the forefront of the highways industry, particularly in health and safety, which is a shared priority of Connect Plus Services, who operate and maintain the M25 on behalf of National Highways and Connect Plus. 

As discussed in Highways Magazine, advances in technology are proving vital in removing workers from positions of heightened risk. 

Through its Innovation Designated Funds programme, National Highways is investing in autonomous plant, which will help protect workers. 

One of such pioneering advances is the Automated Cone Laying Machine (ACLM). 

The revolutionary machinery can deploy or collect a cone every ten seconds, removing the need for this to be done manually by operatives. It has been developed and supplied in collaboration by Highway Care and SENN Engineering before being announced onto the M25 by one of CPS’ parent companies, Balfour Beatty. 

Traffic Management will always remain crucial aspect of road maintenance, with cone deployment being the primary measure for the safety of our workforce and the public. However, manual cone laying is classified as one of our ten fatal risks. 

By automating the cone laying and collecting process, critical risks are removed: 

• Operatives removed from the network to position of safety  
• Manual handling eliminated  
• Long-term health benefits from elimination of manual handling, risks of hearing damage 
• Improved working conditions, including weather  
• Greater accuracy in cone placement through automation 
• Tapering activities supported 
• Operative upskilled in use of technology 
• Loading/unloading manual handling eliminated 
• It’s body build design accommodates key TM equipment i.e. sign frames/sign plates/sandbags/lamps.  
• Capability to complete extended closures based on cone capacity 
• Removes possibility of operatives being a distraction hazard 
• Opportunities for efficiencies in resource – simplified operation with few operatives 

Dale Hicks, Technical Officer at CPS, said: ‘The major benefit is removing the workforce from the point of danger. Standing in the footwell they are so close to the moving traffic. They are exposed to extreme noise levels, emissions. The cone laying machine removes all that, it’s phenomenal’ 

Read the full article in Highways Magazine, including quotes from our team and more about how innovation is enhancing health and safety in the industry, here (page 14-15). 

We currently have many exciting career opportunities available throughout the business and various departments, which can be found online here.