Keeping a worksite safe for your workers and the public while maintaining efficiency is a common challenge when carrying out drainage works across footpaths.

Traditional methods of covering trenches and excavations such as steel plates, plywood or temporary backfilling often create additional work, introduce new hazards and slow construction progress.

We recently caught up with Daniel Grigg, Traffic Manager at Fulton Hogan Southland, to hear how his team has been using our LowPro composite trench covers on site.

Daniel shares why they made the switch, the alternatives they considered, and the difference the covers have made to both safety and efficiency during footpath reinstatement projects.

Client: Daniel Grigg, Traffic Manager at Fulton Hogan Southland

Solutions used: LowPro® Safe Cover 15/10

Q. What was the challenge you were experiencing before you looked into composite plates?

A. When completing lateral drainage works that went through the footpath, we had previously gated or backfilled holes until we could construct them and reinstate them with concrete.

Having the composite footpath plates allowed us to construct as we went along the footpath and covered the hole for up to a week to complete the reinstatement with one establishment of the concrete team keeping the pedestrians safe while doing so.

Q. How did you come across composite plates as an option?

A. I found these plates on the web site then discussed with Oliver the suitability for the job.

Q. Did you weigh up any alternative solutions?

A. In the past we had often used ply and steel plates, these moved and became more of a hazard to pedestrians not to mention the weight of the steel plates and having to lift them with an excavator each time we moved down the footpath.

Q. What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed on sites since using composite plates?

A. The sites are safer with the composite plates as the don’t move when placed correctly, they are light and easy to lift and shift around site and give us piece of mind on unattended sites.

Q. Any general feedback?

A. A very good product and very good service from Vanguard.

If you’re facing a similar challenge to Daniel or are curious to learn more about composite trench covers, get in touch for a chat to see if composite is the right fit for your situation.