After hearing a request from a safety-conscious customer, the Engineering Department at J. H. Fletcher & Co. has developed a machine that dramatically increases worker safety during mine slope beam installations. It eliminates much of the need for heavy lifting and awkward reaching that can result in injury. In the past, workers hefted large beam components into position manually, holding them stationary until they could be bolted together, explained Ben Hardman, Fletcher Coal Products Sales Manager. After several beams had been set, they were fastened together using connector bars and corrugated metal panels. Finally, grout or concrete would be pumped around the metal to make a sealed structure. To manage these operations, miners had to climb around the structures with tools and materials, manoeuvring them into position. (more…)
