5/22/2001 8:31 AMAGENDA #2b

 

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

 

TO:               W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

FROM:         Bruce Heflin, Public Works Director 

 

SUBJECT:    CIP Project:  Public Works Lube Pit and Vehicle Washing Facility  Renovations

 

DATE:          May 30, 2001

 

 

This budget working paper responds to the Council’s request for additional information concerning the proposed Lube Pit renovation project and the proposed Vehicle Washing Facility project at the Public Works compound.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The fiscal year 2001-2016 Manager’s Recommended Capital Improvements Program includes $60,000 in fiscal year 2001/2002 for renovations to the Public Works Lube Pit.  About $50,000 would be used to purchase six portable hydraulic truck lifting devices and collateral equipment.  The remaining $10,000 would be used to remove the existing equipment, fill the pit and install a concrete floor in its place.  The budget also includes $25,000 in fiscal year 2001/2002 and an additional $55,000 in fiscal year 2002/2003 for the Vehicle Washing Facility Project.

 

Please note that the changes recommended tonight to the Capital Improvements Program would change the funding for these two projects to proceeds of the 1996 Public Works Bonds.

 

DISCUSSION

Public Works Lube Pit

 

The existing vehicle lubrication work bay is an in-ground pit.  OSHA regulations require us to protect this pit with a guardrail or other fall protection when it is not in use.  As an interim measure, we are using tree protection fencing as a hazard-warning device; however, we believe that this action falls short of full compliance with OSHA’s fall protection regulations.  (Please see the photograph # 1 attached.)   The existing lube pit has only one set of stairs for entry/exit; therefore, we also have some concerns about safe egress from the lube pit in the event of a fire ofr other emergency.  Closure of this pit and installation of above ground portable lifts would put us in full compliance with safety regulations and would enhance the overall safety of our automotive preventive maintenance operation.  Another advantage of the portable lift system is that it can be moved from bay to bay and it can be moved to a new Public Works facility in the future.  (Please see photograph #2 attached.) 

 

These lifts would also improve shop safety and efficiency by providing us with a new capability to lift our heaviest vehicles including fire trucks and front-loading garbage trucks.  Currently, it is necessary for mechanics to work on the underside of these vehicles by using the lube pit or crawling under them and lying on their back.  This does not always afford them safe access to all of the underside components of the vehicles.   The use of portable lifts would allow us to raise these vehicles to a height that would allow mechanics to safely work from a standing position and allow them full access to the underside of the vehicles.

 

Another option to achieve full compliance with safety regulations would be to contract for safety modifications to the existing lube pit.  This option would require some repairs of the existing metal framework plus the addition of various safety features including sliding metal covers and fall protection netting.  Photograph #3 attached is an example of such safety features from a local commercial garage.  While we have not solicited formal cost estimates for this work, we believe that a qualified contractor could do it for under $20,000.  The primary advantage of this course of action is the reduced cost.  Under this option we would probably be able to achieve full compliance with OSHA safety regulations; however, we would not gain the enhanced operational capability associated with the portable hydraulic lifts.  Additionally, the benefits of this course of action are not transferable to the new Public Works facility.

 

Vehicle Washing Facility 

 

Our current vehicle washing facility is limited to a drained concrete basin equipped with a water hose and a high-pressure hot water hose.  The wastewater is filtered through a course grate to separate large debris before it is piped to a settling tank that drains into the sanitary sewer system.  This facility provides a means for truck drivers to hand wash their trucks.  This is a labor-intensive operation that exposes the drivers to hot water, strong detergents, biohazards and the risks of slips and falls when cleaning the top of large trucks.  (Please see photograph #4 attached).

 

The primary mission of the proposed automated vehicle washing facility would be to wash our large sanitation vehicles.  Secondary missions would include the washing of other large trucks, small trucks and sedans.  The new facility would enhance personnel safety by automating some truck washing tasks and minimizing exposure to hot water, strong detergents, biohazards and slip/fall hazards.  The new facility would also reduce the negative impacts on the environment by improving our ability to manage and recycle wastewater from vehicle washing.  The facility also will reduce our reliance on commercial vehicle washing operations for cars and light trucks.  Most of the hardware associated with the proposed vehicle washing facility could be moved to the new Public Works site.  The only additional cost associated with moving the equipment would be the cost of site preparation, labor for removal and reinstallation and some minor hardware.  Photograph #5 attached shows an example of an automated vehicle washing facility.  

 

 

CONCLUSIONS

 

Public Works Lube Pit

 

We believe that the interim safety measures taken at the Public Works Lube Pit are insufficient to put us in full compliance with OSHA fall protection regulations.  We can achieve full compliance with OSHA by either modifying the current open pit or by purchasing portable hydraulic lift equipment that would enable us to fill and close the lube pit.  We are recommending the second option because it gives us a much-improved operational capability to work on the large trucks in our fleet and the equipment can be moved to the new Public Works facility and used for several years.

 

Vehicle Washing Facility 

      

Our current vehicle washing facilities are labor intensive and expose our employees to the potential hazards of hot water, strong detergents, biohazards and the risk of slips and falls when cleaning the top of large trucks.  We believe that the proposed installation of an automated vehicle washing facility would provide an increased measure of safety for our employees, reduce the impact of vehicle washing on the environment by recycling much of the wash water and improve the overall condition of our automotive fleet. 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.      Photograph #1  Public Works Lube Pit (p. 4).

2. Photograph #2  Portable Hydraulic Lifts (p. 5).
3. Photograph #3  Open Pit Safety Features (p. 6).
4. Photograph #4  Current Public Works Vehicle Washing Facility (p. 7).
5. Photograph #5  Automated High Pressure Vehicle Washing Facility (p. 8).

 

 

 

Photograph 1:  Public Works Lube Pit

Photograph 2:  Portable Hydraulic Lifts

 

Photograph 3: Open Pit Safety Features

Photograph 4:  Current Public Works Vehicle Washing Facility

 

Photograph 5:   Automated High-Pressure Vehicle Washing Facility