RICHLAND, Wash. - EM Richland Operations Office and site services contractor Mission Support Alliance (MSA) have upgraded Hanford ’s snow removal equipment in time for winter.
Three new systems feature modern hydraulics and attachments, an in-cab touch screen menu, and joystick controls. The contractor hopes these systems will provide consistency for the drivers and mechanics, yield higher snow removal, and minimize maintenance downtime, costs, and the amount of sand used annually.
Last fall, workers with MSA’s Fleet Services, Roads and Grounds, and Motor Carrier Services visited local shops to find out which systems were working well. After determining the best road maintenance system for snow, MSA ordered and installed a test unit during the particularly harsh winter of 2016. It held up well, instilling confidence that it was the best system for Hanford. MSA ordered two more systems for the upcoming winter.
Rusty Knight, with MSA Roads Maintenance, said the equipment will make snow removal easier for MSA drivers.
“This new system will have a positive impact on snow removal across the Hanford Site," Knight said. “This year we’ll be running three of the new version and four of the existing version and hope to add more of the new ones next year."
The manufacturer of the new equipment will train about 50 MSA employees to operate the trucks.
“I feel more comfortable heading into another potentially harsh winter at Hanford, because of having the three new systems in place." Knight said.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
