Harris Water Mains Improve Public Safety

Harris Water Main and Sewer Contractors are a 4^th generation specialist in subsurface water main and sewer installations in New York City. The company has a rich history of providing plumbing and heating across all five boroughs spanning over a century.

Today we’ll explain how Harris Water Mains maintains public safety while conducting excavation work in New York using the LowPro 15/10 trench cover system.

The Challenge

Before adopting the LowPro 15/10 trench cover system, Harris Water Mains used steel road plates and cold patching, and any work carried out overnight required the sidewalk to be refilled and temporary asphalt to be installed which was costly and time-consuming. Some of the challenges faced by Harris Water mains were:   

• Slip and Trip Hazards: Trip hazards are not only a danger to the public but can result in expensive lawsuits which was a risk to Harris Water Mains. If steel road plates are not fastened or become loose from passing vehicles or machinery, they can shift underfoot becoming a major trip hazard. Even with cold patching, steel road plates present an uneven road surface that creates a trip risk, especially as their dark color blends into the sidewalk and roadway. Rainy New York weather can make steel road plates even more slippery increasing the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
• Regulations and Compliance: In New York City, the Department of Transportation is responsible for developing regulations and compliance to keep the public safe on the roadways and sidewalks. Non-compliant work could result in expensive fines.
• Efficiency: Completing work quickly and safely is a priority for Harris Water Mains, so they needed a product that was quick and easy to install and remove, so they could use their time more efficiently to complete work.
• Safety Challenges: Steel road plates used in high footfall or traffic areas can be prone to sagging or dipping, presenting a major safety concern to the public.

The Solution: LowPro 15/10 Trench Cover System

The LowPro 15/10 trench cover system offers the ideal solution as an alternative to steel road plates. Not only does it meet the safety requirements to avoid slips and falls, but offers durability, ease of use and compliance in comparison to steel road plates.

• Trip Hazards: The vibrant yellow design of the LowPro 15/10 trench cover system is molded with an anti-slip design making it visible and safer for workers and pedestrians. There’s no need to bolt the LowPro 15/10 trench cover system to the ground as the rubber edges grip the asphalt in all weather conditions. The ramp attachments create a smooth gradient for vehicles and pedestrians, reducing the risk of tripping on an uneven surface.
• Regulations and compliance: The LowPro 15/10 trench cover system meets ADA compliance requirements, reducing the risk of fines. It is also much quieter when driven over in comparison to steel road plates, reducing the risk of noise complaints.
• Efficiency: The LowPro 15/10 trench cover system can be easily installed by just two people by hand, it’s lightweight, meaning that it can easily be stored and transported without the need for heavy machinery. It can also easily be installed across different-sized trenches as they can be linked together with infill strips. The need to backfill excavations are eliminated due to the flexibility and ease of use of the LowPro 15/10 trench cover system.
• Safety Challenges: The LowPro 15/10 has a load-bearing capacity of 7700lbs which means it won't bounce or deflect, offering reliability.

Here’s what Harris Water Mains had to say

Owner and CEO of Harris Water Mains Brett Kogel said

"There's a lot of different value in the LowPro trench covers. One is timing; to make the sidewalk safe overnight, we used to backfill the trench and put down temporary asphalt. Then, our restoration team would come back in the following days. The cost of dumping the backfill soil and the time for digging the sidewalk again for the cement installation, we were able to eliminate with the LowPro.

"Eliminating cold patch is a direct bottom line saving for this water contractor.

"I have 8 crews on the field daily, handling water main and sewer installation, asphalt and concrete restoration. We've been able to eliminate 90% of the asphalt used on the sidewalk from most of our jobs. As we continue to scale up and purchase more plates, the goal is to utilize them on most of our jobs."

How can Oxford Plastics help?

Ready to join other businesses taking advantage of composite road plates? Contact our helpful team today, or read more of our case studies here.