District 6's Rojas adapts golf cart dolly to crack sealing

Tony Rojas from District 6 faced a recurring problem each time the crew sealed cracks in the roadway. His solution was a product from another industry - golf.

"We use a backpack-style sprayer to apply a soap solution on the crack seal material so the material won't stick to tires and get re-distributed on the road," he explained. "The sprayer is heavy when it is full, and awkward to take on and off."

"To take the backpack on and off is burdensome, and to leave it on is uncomfortable in long durations with the tank full most of the time. The pack is an uncomfortable apparatus anyhow."

Rojas (pictured below right) re-purposed an old walk-behind golf cart caddie he had at home by strapping the sprayer to it. By eliminating the need to take the backpack on and off several times during an application, the innovation saves time and doesn't wear out the user."

So far, Rojas said, the crew has had all positive comments about it as it has made the task easier.

Rojas is already looking at how he can improve the creation.

"I would put a small electric pump on it with a small battery, so you don't have to pump it so much," he explained. "I'd also put a paddle holder on it to make it easier to carry the paddle and spray as you do a mobile operation. The tank doesn't hold pressure very long."

I appears version 2.0 is poised at the edge of the innovation funnel.

"There is always room for improvement; you just have to be willing to do it," said Rojas.

"This is innovation at its best," said ITD innovation champion Charlene McArthur. "Tony repurposed something in a very creative way. It did not require a lot of cost or engineering, nor require any permission to come up with a way to prevent potential future injuries for staff. And Tony preserved the level of service for our customers by not reducing efficiency!"


Published 05-20-16