Page 12 - LMD Vacuum Excavation - Annual Review 2021/22

Vehicle servicing and maintenance
FORS accreditation
LMD already holds FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Bronze accreditation. In 2022, our aim is to achieve FORS Sliver accreditation and maybe even FORS Gold. All new additions
to the LMD fleet are already specified to the FORS Gold standard. This standard covers all aspects of vehicle, operator and third-party safety including hi-vis steps, blind spot vision aids, audible warning systems, in-cab display systems, high- spec mirrors and cameras and data recording. LMD already has the largest UK fleet of vacuum excavators equipped with Direct Vision cabs (see below).
FORS Silver accreditation stipulates mandatory training for drivers which includes spending time on a bike to appreciate how it feels to navigate busy roads as a cyclist.
All drivers joining LMD already undergo a challenging third- party driving assessment.
All LMD vacuum excavators undergo regular six-weekly
PMI (Preventative Maintenance Inspection) checks. All remedial works are logged on LMD’s workshop management programme. The PMI are complemented by daily driver vehicle safety checks.
In my time with LMD, it has made a significant investment in its workshop team, the workshop itself, and the diagnostic equipment available to its fitters, This all feeds in to ensuring the safe operation of the LMD fleet.
When they return to base, all LMD vacuum excavators are washed and inspected. Clean vehicles may
not, in themselves, be any safer
than dirty ones, but the sense
of pride and ownership felt by the driver provides a psychological boost which I am sure improves their approach to safety.
EU driving hours
To protect the wellbeing
of its team members on
site, LMD is committed
to continuing to work to EU drivers’ hours rules which are more restrictive than the domestic GB equivalent.
I believe operating EU drivers’ hours gives our operators a better and safer quality of life, and is a bonus for clients as it provides for safer operations on their sites.
‘The factors I have noted in this article represent just some
of the steps we take at LMD to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our teams. I am continuously looking for ways in which we can further improve and look forward to reporting on these in next year’s review.’
Ian Buchanan, LMD Health & Safety Manager
LMD has established the UK’s largest fleet of vacuum excavators that incorporate Mercedes Benz’s Econic DirectVision cab as well as additional safety features. LMD’s Econic fleet already has the maximum five-star rating.
The Econic cab provides a low seating position for the driver. Combined with the full-height glazed door on the passenger side, this provides the driver with direct eye-contact with cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. The full-height glazed door – from wheel to cab top – concertinas to ensure safe opening and the avoidance of potential accidents. Safety is also enhanced by a mirror system that extends the driver’s field of vision to include the vacuum excavator’s operating area and blind spots.
Direct Vision
Vision Zero is the Mayor of London’s groundbreaking initiative to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London’s transport network by 2041.
One of the core components of Vision Zero is the Transport for London (TfL)Direct Vision Standard (DVS) for heavy goods vehicles (HGV) exceeding 12 tonne GWW. The Direct Vision Standard objectively measures how much an HGV driver can see directly through their cab windows.
The Direct Vision Standard has six ratings from zero stars through to five stars. To start with, all HGVs operating within Greater London will need a minimum one star rating. In 2024, this will increase to a minimum of three stars.
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