Thread: training again

I watched a training video for road repair today. Bob was sick, so wendy had to supervise. Dizzy knoked the soccer ball into the middle of the wet surface, but wendy, muck and rolly sorted it out.

I don't know if these would be of any use to you Andy, but I have just checked through my training files and found that I still have all of the Caterpillar Institute training presentations for Graders - mostly MS Powerpoint presentations.

I have specific presentations for 16H, 24H & 140H, as well as generic presentations for the modules "Construct Roads", "Machine on Slope", "H Series Operating Tips", "H Series Application Guide", "Maintain Roads" and "Prepare for Road Construction and Maintenance". All of these are for Nationally Accredited modules as part of Mining Industry Standard training.

I'm a qualified trainer & assessor in mobile plant - specialised mainly in loaders. Was also signed off to conduct assessments on behalf of Cat Institute a few years ago when I was working for a contractor which had an agreement in place with Cat Institute as RTO.

I also have a collection of similar training modules for Dozers, Excavators, IT's, Loaders and Wheel Dozers.

If you think any of this might be of any use to you, either for your own benefit or in your new role on the safety side, let me know and I'll figure out a way to get onto a disc and down to you (way too much to e-mail).

Cheers .................. BM

Andy,

Nothing like 'hands on'. I learnt on CAT 120Gs back in the early 80s in the Army, when we had a full on 6mth training course. I would never claim to be a 'final trim' operator but I can cut a road and trim batters. Have you been shown how to side mount your blade to trim a batter?

One memorable job I had was up at Shoalwater Bay one year cleaning up after an exercise when it had rained and the truck convoys had driven down the Livingstone Shire maintained Stanage Bay Road, on the north side of the training area, and had made a mess of the road. Well, guess who had to go and regrade it? I spent two weeks out there, and the SGT would drive out every other day to refuel me and check I was still there. The local station owners loved me because I was regrading their property road entrances and they'd flip me some beer, steaks, or whatever.

Enjoy your learning, and get as much practise in as you can before they put you on laser assisted equipment. Don't be afraid to get down off your machine to view what you need to do. It helps your appreciation of what needs to be moved from where to where when you are starting out.

Good to hear a of Shire Council giving proper training to operators.
In my days selling construction and mining equipment, we were appalled by the unfortunate fact that many, if not most, operators were trained by another operator, had little idea of the full capacity and applications of the machine, had ingrained bad habits of their own making or as taught by the previous operator.

BM
I would love it if you could burn me a copy!!!!
Ive spent hours on the net looking for material on road construction.Only found US stuff that is quite different than the way we do things.
Had the camera today,but was off in the esky in my work ute,early days on the job,but Im pretty impressed,even workmates have commented that the job looks good.
Will take it again tommorow and post a pic.
Andrew

A few pics for you lot.
This morning




Dirt removed from the top of the hill used as fill in low points.


And after a days work.


Getting loads of "well done,top job" from workmates and the farmers around where we are working,1 even suggested today I can throw my L plates away!!!
Will see what the trainer dude has to say tommorow when he returns for another days tuition!!!
Will add pics from time to time,another kilometer or so to go forming the road up,then cart HEAPS of gravel in then eventually it will get black stuff on the top.
This road is my baby,all mine from start to finish
Andrew

Andy,

I think I have the plans here for that power pole up aheadhttp://http://www.flickr.com/photos/...n/photostream/

If you like grading here is a jobhttp://http://www.flickr.com/photos/...n/photostream/

This is the airfield at Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan 1.8km long 32m wide. I renovated it in Nov 05 and have been maintaining it for the SAS, and then the Dutch and the ADF here since.

It is the only operational dirt strip in the world landing C17s. http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/...n/photostream/We get up to 28planes a day...we had 5 of those C17s in one day.

It has a steady longitudinal gradient of 1.5-1.8 % and we have to maintain it with a -1.5% crossfall from the crown to the shoulders. Compaction is important as it needs a good 'tight' surface to make it last, like thishttp://http://www.flickr.com/photos/...n/photostream/

As you might well imagine, the grading tolerances are pretty high. My grader operator is a Philipino called Domingo, and he is great.

We are continually renovating the surface as you might imagine, being dirt, it keeps being eroded by the jetblasts and prop-washes. Just preparing the contract for extension until Mar 2010....if they like the price!

Originally Posted by Jamo

I watched a training video for road repair today. Bob was sick, so wendy had to supervise. Dizzy knoked the soccer ball into the middle of the wet surface, but wendy, muck and rolly sorted it out.

Took me a few seconds to catch on, .