Workforce Woes
Published: 22/1, 2020
Maintain Productivity Amid a Skilled Worker Shortage with Compact Hydrodemolition Robots
by Keith Armishaw, Business Development Manager – North America, Aquajet Systems
According to the Associated General Contractors of America, what keeps contractors up at night is the availability — or more accurately, the lack — of skilled labor. In fact, 82% of firms expect it will remain difficult to hire qualified workers in the coming months due to older workers leaving the profession during recession years and younger workers seeking less labor-intensive jobs. In addition, the world construction market is projected to grow 85% by 2030, adding stress to an industry already struggling to keep up with demand. The circumstances for concrete repair contractors are particularly challenging. In 2018, the Portland Cement Association predicted cement consumption will grow from an estimated 109.5 million tons in 2018 to 116.9 million tons by 2020 due to an anticipated increase in infrastructure spending, all while the skilled labor force continues to dwindle. To add to the dilemma, contemporary concrete demolition methods are not exactly scalable; the only way to increase output is with more workers. Many concrete repair contractors rely on manual concrete removal methods, such as pneumatic paving breakers or hand lances that use a high-pressure water jet.
Though widely used, hand lances do little to advance concrete contractors’ goals of improving productivity to match growing demand. The tools, inherently saddled with issues of fatigue and injury, drive up workman’s compensation costs. And due to design limitations, hand lances provide limited value in terms of power, precision, and productivity. Many concrete repair contractors are turning to remote-controlled hydrodemolition robots to improve workforce utilization and jobsite productivity. These machines allow workers to stand at a safe distance and monitor the equipment, reducing operator fatigue while simultaneously increasing precision and efficiency. Some manufacturers now provide the same advanced technology of standard hydrodemolition robots in lighter, smaller systems. At a fraction of the cost of standard machines, compact robotic Hydrodemolition systems provide a cost-effective mode of entry for concrete repair contractors who want to add hydrodemolition technology to their operation.
The Cost of Being Tired
Tired workers can be a significant drain on jobsite productivity, dragging out project completion and racking up unnecessary labor costs. The National Safety Council estimates that reduced performance due to fatigue can cost businesses up to $3,100 per employee annually. Hand lances cause workers to fatigue quickly because they must resist back thrust as they operate the water jet. A worker using a 30,000 psi (2,068 bar) hand lance must constantly fight up to 54 lbf (240 N) for normal operation. The physical exhaustion translates to less productivity and greater cost for the business owner. Remote-controlled compact robotic hydrodemolition systems, however, combat worker fatigue. Ergonomic controls mounted at waist height allow operators to work for hours without tiring, improving productivity and allowing concrete repair contractors to scale their operations without spending more on labor resources.
Productivity from Safety
Compact hydrodemolition systems allow operators to stand back from the area where concrete is being systematically removed, keeping them safe from flying debris and silica dust. And unlike hand lances or handheld pneumatic tools, these compact robots don’t require workers’ bodies to absorb any shock from the concrete removal process, preventing injuries to hands, wrists, shoulders and backs that are common with regular operation of handheld tools. Since compact hydrodemolition robots can be mounted on standard scaffolding and work in tight spaces, including next to ledges, concrete repair contractors also save the time of setting up fall abatement systems. Operators can remain a safe distance from fall risk areas, eliminating the need for time-consuming assembly and tear-down of these systems.
Achieving a high water flow rate and reaction force is vital for water jetting tools to achieve the depths of removal necessary to complete most concrete structure restoration jobs. The lower flow rate of hand lances makes it difficult to remove concrete beyond a depth of .5 in (12.7mm). Compact Hydrodemolition robots can safely handle about 30 gallons/min (113.5 liters/min), three times the capacity of hand lances. These machines can handle up to 225 lbf (1,000 N) of reaction force compared to only 56 lbf (N) produced by hand lances.
Compact mydrodemolition robots can remove concrete at rates of 10 ft3 (.28 m3) per hour,. That means a job completed almost 10 times faster with a compact Hydrodemolition robot rather than a hand lance. The robots can also be programmed to maintain a specific depth of removal, a feat impossible from handheld water jetting tools. Constant depth control eliminates the unknowns in performance, giving concrete repair contractors more control of their projects and assurance that they can meet promised deadlines. Now more than ever, construction businesses need to adopt high-tech equipment to retain their workforce, increase efficiency and improve jobsite safety. With no end in sight to the skilled labor shortage, contractors can – and must – adapt new methods into their business model to thrive in a changing economic environment.