Machines Ease Site Cleanup
by Jessica Simpson
January 5, 2012
One of Sevenson’s primary uses for its JCB telehandlers is in the yard at the Niagara Falls headquarters. They use the machines to move equipment and unload materials.
In
the past 40 years, environmental regulations have drastically changed in the
United States.
With the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970,
environmental issues have continued to gained momentum as a hot topic for the
government and citizens alike. When action needs to be taken to clean up
hazardous material, an experienced firm with a reputation in environmental
remediation is the key to restoring a site to healthy standards.
Sevenson Environmental Services is one U.S. firm with that kind of experience.
Based out of Niagara Falls, N.Y., Sevenson specializes in environmental
remediation and cleanup of hazardous materials. The company has completed more
than 1,300 projects throughout the country.
Building a Reputation
Sevenson Environmental Services started out as the Albert Elia Building Company
in 1917. The company first dabbled in environmental remediation in 1979 when it
was selected to clean up the toxic chemicals affecting Love Canal in Niagara
Falls, N.Y. That successful project led to other cleanup work and a new
name—Sevenson Environmental Services—in 1988.
Today, Sevenson is one of the nation’s leading environmental cleanup
contractors with hundreds of projects completed at a value of more than $3.3
billion. Sevenson’s full-time staff of 300 and its seasonal staff of 600 to 700
employees allow the company to complete projects at sites all across the United
States.
According to Jim Pease, a heavy equipment superintendent at Sevenson, the
company’s most common service is hazardous sediment remediation. Sevenson’s
other services include excavation and earthwork, dredging and dewatering,
temporary and mobile water treatment systems, chemical treatment, slurry wall
and trench construction and facility decontamination and demolition.
Machinery for Heavy-Duty Jobs
Working on rough, dirty terrain is the norm for Sevenson. To physically dig out
and load contaminated soil, they use excavators and dozers. In order to
complete time-sensitive and labor-intensive projects under harsh conditions,
Sevenson operates a fleet of specialized equipment and vehicles, which includes
14 JCB skid steers and 10 JCB telehandlers, used for several different
purposes.
“After we get word of a job, we mobilize all of the equipment we need and get
it out to the site,” Pease says. “We have JCB equipment on just about every
job.”
The JCB skid steers are used for material handling, but they also have
sweepers, pick-up brooms and fork attachments for cleaning, loading and
unloading. “We have used other brands, but we like the quality of this
product,” Pease says.
One of the things that Pease says makes JCB’s skid steers stand out is their
single-arm PowerBoom design, instead of the conventional two-armed approach.
The side-mounted arm creates an unobstructed rear view and better visibility,
which enhances job safety. The skid steer’s entrance is on the left side, so
operators can enter and exit on the opposite side of the loader arm. This
design also keeps operators from having to step over attachments that are often
sharp or slippery.
“The side door and single-arm design of
the JCB skid steers was a big reason why we purchased these machines,” Pease
says. “Visibility from the inside of the
cab was a lot better with the JCBs, and we feel the single-boom design has
excellent stability and lifting strength.”
While skid steers can handle many tasks for Sevenson, there are times when a
different type of machine could provide more benefits to the contractor, says
Jim Blower, senior product marketing manager for JCB North America.
“Telehandlers can be outfitted with a number of attachments, making them able
to perform many of the same tasks as a skid steer loader, for example,” Blower says.
“However, while skid steers are also maneuverable and useful in crowded spaces,
telehandlers have an extendable boom that provides greater reach if you’ll be
lifting loads across obstacles or up to a higher level. Some smaller
telehandlers can even be used as a compact loader when outfitted with the
appropriate bucket attachment.”
Blower says JCB telehandlers have side-mounted engines, as well as the
side-entry door. Larger machines feature a four-stage boom, allowing the
telehandler to lift up to 10,000 pounds without compromising maneuverability
and safety. Like the skid steers, the telehandlers also have all-around
visibility, Blower adds.
“The telehandlers are generally used for loading and unloading materials as
they are coming into the jobsite,” Pease explained. “We also use them to move
supplies around the site, such as pipes, pumps and water treatment materials.
Anything you would normally use a forklift for in a warehouse, we use
telehandlers. We’re not working on blacktop or concrete surfaces. We need the
telehandlers for the terrain.”
Sevenson’s equipment operators use telehandlers when the job involves heavier
lifting and faster delivery. One of the main uses for these machines is in the
yard at the Niagara Falls headquarters. “We have two telehandlers that run
eight to nine hours a day, five to six days a week,” Pease says. “We are
constantly moving things, unloading materials and preparing things to deliver
to jobsites.
The telescopic handlers also get to spend time out on the cleanup sites as
well. At a location in Tennessee, Sevenson used the telehandlers to help remove
contamination from a polluted river. Ash from a nearby power plant outside of
Knoxville, Tenn., had gotten into the river, causing major environmental
hazards. Pease says the telehandlers’ lifting ability, speed and
maneuverability on the sometimes marshy ground made them an indispensable
element during the remediation process.
Safety First
For safety purposes, it’s essential for machine operators to be thoroughly
trained. At any given time, up to 400 operators are trained to use Sevenson’s
equipment. Each must know how to quickly move from one machine to the next when
necessary. According to Pease, JCB machines are easy to operate, a fact that’s
beneficial when it comes to training.
“Ease of use of the telehandlers and the skid steers saves money, too,” Pease
says. “Our operators spend less time fumbling around, trying to remember what
switch works what feature. Plus, they’re a lot safer to use. There is less of a
chance of operator damage and injury.
Pease says without their JCB skid steers and telehandlers, Sevenson wouldn’t
have the capability to complete the heavy-duty and time-intensive restoration
projects that they specialize in.
“We take a lot of pride in the fact that we’ve been able to restore so many
sites and make them environmentally safe once again,” Pease says. “It’s our
combination of the right people and the right equipment that makes us very good
at what we do.”
Jessica Simpson
Jessica
Simpson is a public relations writer with Swanson Russell marketing
communications agency in Lincoln, Neb. She works primarily with clients in the
construction and green industries.
Comments (0) Post a Comment
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to the magazine.