August 13, 2021
Saiia improves safety with remote-operated equipment
Saiia, an IEA company, is one of the first companies to deploy remote-controlled equipment on construction jobsites. This groundbreaking technology promotes safety in the field, enabling machine operators to control equipment, like excavators, remotely.
"You can never remove the operator from the picture, but you can remove the operator from unknown conditions,” said Saiia superintendent Clint Kennedy.
On a site, ground conditions change constantly—no two days are the same. There are also ongoing risks associated with weather-related hazards like lightning, flash flooding and more.
While the Saiia team remotely operates equipment, it’s important to note that they’re not automating the process. The team spent several days learning and practicing remote-controlled equipment with Caterpillar. As a result, Saiia was one of the first companies to receive prototypes to do field testing, making their deployment of remote-controlled equipment one of the first in the nation.
While this technology is cutting-edge, what’s most important the Saiia team is protecting their people. “It means a lot to me that Saiia put so much into safety,” said operator David Morrison. “If this machine gets severely damaged, at the end of the day, I still get to go home.”
Learn more about Saiia’s remote-controlled technology in the article, Remotely Operated Machines Deployed at Ala. Coal Ash Site, published by ENR.
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