Setting the Standard for Using Supporting Materials Under Stabilizers or Outriggers
“When utility crews are deployed to conduct repairs, the setup locations are often along roadsides with slopes, ditches, or unstable surfaces. Unfortunately, tip overs continue to be one of the most common job site accidents that are generally preventable with proper planning, training, and the use of outrigger pads, cribbing or blocking. Knowing when and how to use these types of products is essential to help prevent accidents,” said Kris Koberg in the article, Setting the Standard for Using Supporting Materials Under Stabilizers or Outriggers, published in the August 2023 issue of Utility Fleet Professional.
Truck-mounted equipment frequently used in utility applications, such as Aerial Devices, Digger Derricks Knuckle Boom Cranes, and Boom Trucks, are equipped with either stabilizers or outriggers. Another type of equipment, Compact Crawler Lifts can be found in vegetation management applications. They are not truck mounted but also have outriggers that must be deployed correctly.
When selecting an outrigger pad, several criteria must be considered. That criteria may include:
- Size, shape, and features.
- Strength and stiffness of the material.
- Total cost of ownership.
Jimmy Brown, Director of Fleet Services for EnergyUnited, said for many years electric utilities were cutting sections from wood timbers and bolting them together, then drilling a hole and using rope for a handle. It worked but was cumbersome to handle and transport.
Several years ago, Brown led an initiative to establish a fleet committee to create that policy, which guides equipment purchases that meet the needs of the crews and the application.
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About DICA
DICA, Urbandale, Iowa, is a family-owned and operated company that specializes in building high performance engineered outrigger pads, crane pads, cribbing blocks and magnetic sling protectors that are lightweight, easy to use, and long-lasting.
DICA has been specializing in building a better outrigger pad since 1988. By creating engineered solutions for improving equipment stability and ergonomic safety, DICA is leading the way in product innovation for outrigger pads, crane pads and cribbing. DICA products are proudly Made in the USA, ASME B30.5 compliant and used by operators on all seven continents and 50+ countries around the world.