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9 Steps to a Safe, Efficient Ver-Mac Equipment Deployment

Ver-Mac units work hard all summer long, keeping motorists and workers safe during the high construction season. Our machines are easy to set up and virtually autonomous with their solar panels, but there are very specific steps you must follow for a safe, efficient deployment.

Be sure to observe these 9 essential safety steps when deploying your Ver-Mac units:

1. Before positioning your unit at the work zone, make sure you are parking in accordance with all municipal, regional, state/provincial and federal laws.

2. When exiting your vehicle, wear reflective clothing and be sure motorists can see you at all times.

3. Position the unit in a spot with solid, level ground and high visibility toward oncoming traffic.

• Avoid ice, sludge, mud, or any other soft or slippery surfaces.
• Be aware of the weather in the area and avoid deploying in high winds or other potentially dangerous conditions.
• Do not position the unit under bridges, as this prevents solar recharge, or directly under power lines, which causes cellular communication issues.
• Choose a spot with good sun exposure so the unit can recharge during the day (e.g., away from trees or buildings whenever possible). If the solar panels do not have 100% sun exposure, you must monitor and recharge the batteries accordingly. Set up a regular maintenance schedule to ensure sign autonomy.
• Never place your unit in a curve. It must be placed in a very visible place, where motorists can see them for as long as possible.
• Try to select your location in advance for quick parking and deployment.

        Position parallel to the road before deployment

                                         Straight jack

• Deploy the wheel jack and raise the tongue to disengage the coupler.

             

                           Deployed wheel jack                                                                       Disengaged coupler

• Once the unit is stable on the ground and the trailer is securely in place, detach the chains and move your vehicle.

                         Separation from vehicle

• Lift the wheel jack in transport position.

• Deploy outriggers and jacks so the trailer is levelled and ensure the trailer wheels are off the ground.

6. Disengage the solar panel brake and deploy the solar panels. Once they are in position, lock them before deploying the sign so that you have a view of oncoming traffic when doing so, bearing in mind that the panels will be facing south once the sign has turned. Be sure that the solar panel brake is functioning properly by ensuring that the panels don’t swivel.

• Take care to maintain solid footing while deploying the solar panels

     

                                                                             Deployed solar panels                                                                                 Locked solar panel brake                                                                          


7. Make sure the mast brake is locked. Lift the sign slightly to clear any parts or obstacles on the trailer while turning.

Disengage the pin and brake. Turn the sign while remaining on the opposite side of traffic. Align the sign using the sight and lock it in place using the pin once you have obtained good positioning. This will prevent the sign from swivelling in strong winds or wind gusts from passing trucks.

     

                                          Sign deployed & tilted                                                                    Use sight to aim towards oncoming traffic


8. Raise the sign to full height, then insert the locking pin in the safety housing. Make sure to secure the pin.

      

                             Engage mast brake                                                                    Secured pin 1

       

                               Secured pin 2                                                                           Deployed sign

• Never deploy the sign if you notice the mast is not straight. Adjust the jacks until the mast is level.
• Never stand under the sign or under any moving parts that could fall in case of failure
• If deploying with a winch, keep your hands and fingers away from the winch and cable. See this article for detailed safety instructions on deploying Ver-Mac units with a winch.
• If abnormal circumstances occur when trying to raise the sign, do not deploy. Lower the sign and contact Ver-Mac technical support for assistance.

9. Before you go, inspect the unit to ensure the battery box and control box are secured and locked. Make sure that no cables or safety chains are dragging on the ground.



                                     Latches secured on battery box


Have a safe construction season!