Page 10 - Work Force February 2016

Operators of state’s new tow a a Some facts about the new tow plows:
Total length of truck and plow = 71 feet Tow plow plow blade stretches more than 27 feet feet CSEA members at at at at the the state state Department of Transportation are excited and anxious about using the state’s newest weapon in in in fighting snow: tow plows The
state’s new 62 one-operator tow tow plows plows attach as trailers to to to the the back of the the large DOT plow trucks and can be hydraulically adjusted to to to swing out to to to the the the the side of the the the the truck truck Used along with the the the the front-mounted plow plow the the the the tow plows can simultaneously clear two travel lanes CSEA members learning learning to operate the plows have been facing a a a a a a a a a learning learning curve
that for many workers is long steep and wide The
tow plow drivers who must have have a a a a a a Class A New York state driver’s license have have been receiving classroom instruction as as as well as as as hands-on dry runs runs (without snow) snow) and and wet runs runs (with (with snow) snow) to to fully qualify to to operate the new plows While some state DOT workers have been directed to to learn to to operate the the plows others have volunteered John Goff a a a a a a CSEA member and highway maintenance worker based in in in Monroe County is excited about using the the tow plows but admits that he he he he he will be be able to to better judge them them once he he he he he has more experience in them “When I I first saw the the plow and and trailer I I said
to to myself ‘this looks like a a a a a a a a lot to to handle for for one person ’” Goff said
“But when I got comfortable
in in in the cab it was actually less work than handling a a a a a a a a a a a a double-winged truck Now we we will be be able to clear two lanes at once make make fewer trips be be more efficient and hopefully make make the roads a a a a a a a a a lot safer ” Visibility a a a concern
Tim Gallivan a a a a a a a a a a a CSEA member and highway maintenance worker based at DOT’s Onondaga West Residency in in in in in Camillus defined learning to operate the plows as big big in in in in size challenges and responsibility said
“It’s a a a a a a a a a a a big big big experience It’s It’s a a a a a a a a a a a big big change especially changing from driving a a a a a a a a a 10-wheeler to a a a a a a a a a a 14-wheeler and you’re plowing a a a a a a a a a a lane that the truck’s not even in in in it’s an an an odd feeling It’s also a a a a a a a a a big challenge because I’m
I’m
no longer focused focused on on on on on what’s what’s in in in front of me me I’m
I’m
focused focused on on on on on what’s what’s behind me me on on on on on the the right ” While the the tow plows include two video cameras to to to allow drivers to to to see blind spots Gallivan is is still concerned about visibility Gallivan who relies heavily on on mirrors said
that that the the back of the the tow plow is is so high that that he he he he is is unable to to see over it in in mirrors which ironically creates a a a a a a a a blind spot “You’re constantly focused on on on that mirror because you don’t know what to 97 000 pounds
Tow plows can clear 24 feet of snow snow at once twice as as much as as traditional snowplows Tow plows extend
the overall vehicle’s
weight to more than 97 000 pounds
fully loaded (which requires a a a a a a class A license to to operate) and turns a a a a a 10-wheel plow truck into
a a a a a 14-wheeler The
tow plows also contain a a a a a a a a salt spreader and brine tank 62 The
state recently purchased 62 tow plows that will be used across the state The
tow plows currently being used are designed to to to to to swing out to to to to to the the the the right right rear of the the the the plow plow plow trucks to to to to to plow plow plow the the the the the the the lane lane to to to to to the the the the the the the right right while the the the the the the truck truck plows the the the the the the lane lane to to to to to the the the the the the left It takes about about four seconds seconds to to to to to extend
the the the the the tow plow plow into
the the right lane but about about six seconds seconds to to to to retract it 10 The
Work Force
February 2016 CSEA’s Occupational Safety and Health Department staff are working with CSEA leadership and in in in labor- management settings to make sure this equipment is is operated as as safely as possible $110 000 The
plows purchased as as part of the state’s New York Responds initiative cost about $110 000 each