One
non-destructive digging method that civil contractors can use for their digging or trenching purposes
is the hydro vacuum excavation. This method uses a vacuum/suction mechanism to
break up the ground and collect excavated materials. The use of this method can
bring in the long-awaited need of safety and better work results in many
construction projects. How can hydro vacuum excavation benefit the digging or
trenching crew?
Emphasis
on Workplace Safety
Digging
operations at construction and any other civil work projects can become
dangerous at time, with many occupational hazards about waiting to happen from
the careless use of equipment and leaving excavations unsupported. Even if you
are not a civil contractor, you would really know the importance of workplace
safety and proper work flow. Sadly, not all contractors and workers do care
about this. With deadlines to meet, of what use are safety rules and
regulations?
And
that’s where hazards can occur. How many news items have you read or watched
about construction workers damaging underground pipelines and cable networks
and disrupting utility services in the process? What about workers being
injured from collapsed excavations? What about the number of cases of
fatalities? Where is safety in here if workers do not make their workplace safe
or if they use dangerous work methods?
What
is Hydro Vacuum Excavation?
Hydro
vacuum excavation is a non-destructive digging method and one of the two vacuum excavation methods (the other being
air vacuum excavation). Along with air vacuum, hydro vacuum is utilised to
replace the more destructive conventional digging and trenching methods in
certain sites, especially where there is underground utility assets. In a
situation where buried pipelines, cable networks and other assets need to be
exposed or day lighted, this is the method to be used and not excavating by
mechanical drills, backhoes, crane loaders and shovels.
As
the term suggests, hydro vacuum excavation utilises pressurised water in
breaking up the ground. That’s for the non-mechanical and non-destructive digging purpose, and did we mention about collecting excavated spoils? It also makes
use of high flowing and moving air to collect the excavated material through a
vacuum hose or tube into the debris storage tank. These double functions are
made possible with the equipment called suction excavator which combines the
functions of a crane loader and dump truck - multi purposes of single equipment.
Applications
for Hydro Vacuum Excavation
It
is never that difficult and laborious to operate a truck or trailer mounted
suction excavator. Just one or two personnel will do. Moreover, you can bring
this equipment wherever non-destructive digging is greatly needed. Hydro vacuum excavation can be applied along
a busy motorway, near public places (like schools and hospitals), near existing
building and structures and in protected nature.
Aside
from digging and trenching, hydro vacuum excavation can also be used for other
civil works including pressure cleaning, tank and pit cleaning and removal of
wastes.
Results
Guaranteed
Hydro
excavation eliminates the need for manual labour and cuts down on work hours
and operation costs. It helps reduce work stoppage caused by inaccurate excavation
and workplace accidents and damages. It also helps save time and resources
which are wasted in manual digging and operation of machines. Being a non-mechanical,
eco-friendly and non-destructive digging method, hydro vacuum emphasises safe, accurate, efficient and cost-effective
digging results.