"You Show Us" Contest

Each year the LTAP centers encourage counties around the country to participate in the "You Show Us" contest.

In its ninth year, the concept for this contest began in 1994 with the "You Show Us How" contest. The contest is a profitable way to share innovative ideas with others whom may benefit from the inventive concepts. It is also a good way for the crews, supervisors and local agencies to get some recognition for their efforts. Contest entries often focus on safety and operational efficiency as well as other program enhancements. There are many instances when there are not enough program dollars within an agency available to maintain our transportation systems to the desired level of service. The costs for repairs and improvements are increasing while the available finances, at the real value, are actually decreasing. Solving these problems requires efficient use of existing funds, and the application of cost-reducing and innovative techniques. Today's problems are not easily solved with yesterday's solutions!

We are proud to announce that the 2002 Colorado state winning project was submitted by Bernie Andriash of Routt County. As the state winner, Routt County's project has been submitted to compete with counties of North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming to determine a regional winner. The Colorado LTAP center will send one Routt County employee to represent the state winner at the 2002 County Roads Advisors Conference where the state and regional awards will be presented. The conference is to be held in Rapid City, South Dakota on Oct. 22 and 23, 2002.

We'd also like to bestow congratulations to the Colorado state runner-up project; Building a Self Loading Water Tanker with Spray System, submitted by Jake Mall of Garfield County Road and Bridge Department.

Colorado State Winning Project, Submitted by Bernie Andriash, Routt County

Last fall, the Mining Safety and Health Administration issued a citation for noise violation on the county's gravel crushing operation. The operator on the primary crusher could run it only one hour per eight-hour shift to comply with MSHA noise regulations. This person was exposed to deafening noise levels, choking dust and flying rock chips. It was a hazardous work environment even in good weather. You had to stand on a shaking platform looking down into the jaws usually for eight hours a day.

We had to do something to stay in business. Most of the rock crushers are set up with an operator's booth. The cost of an operator's booth was between $10,000 and $90,000. Cameras and monitors allow you to operate this piece of equipment from a safe location. This option was clearly the most cost effective and safest choice.

The setup was installed and field-tested by two highly skilled mechanics in less than 100 hours. Two cameras were located on the primary crusher. One looking down into the jaws and another viewing the control speed setting were all we needed.

A third camera was mounted on a nearby van to help keep an eye on the rest of the operation. One of the two control motors fabricated on this camera is a windshield wiper motor. It lets us scan the gravel pit for incoming inspectors and other VIPs. The camera cables were strung to the monitors mounted inside the van next to the rest of the control panels. The crusher boss can now run two pieces of equipment from inside the climate controlled van.

We purchased a total of two monitors, four cameras and enough camera cable to view any distant equipment in the pit. One monitor can view two cameras. The cameras have audio capabilities so we can tell when parts sound like they may be breaking. The cost of the cameras, monitors, and cables was about $2,000.

Our biggest savings were in eliminating an operator's position and salary. Nobody liked this dirty job anyway. It was a tough position to fill. The five-month crushing season per year costs $18,545 in wages to pay someone to stand on the primary crusher. The first year we will save about $16,545. Since the cameras and equipment are paid for, we should save at least $18,545 in the year 2003. Possibly more depending on insurance and other cost increases next year.