The maintenance of our streets and digging around underground structures require a refined set of skills, often involving heavy machinery. Traditionally, the equipment of choice for trenching and patching has been a backhoe-loader. These powerful vehicles can each weigh more than 14,000 lbs. That’s equal to four SUVs!
Every time an operator digs into the ground, they have to be exceedingly careful to avoid any utility lines or other structures that might be hiding beneath the surface. The ability to dig within inches of those objects takes experience, training, and skill.
Demonstrating that skill is the purpose behind the Backhoe Bowling competition held at the
Maintenance Superintendents Association (MSA) Training and Equipment Show. This requires swinging a 15-foot steel arm with a steel ball and chain attached to hit a five-inch wide bowling pin.
Backhoe operators from across Northern California gathered to learn, train, then compete in this unique contest – seeing who can most accurately knock down the most pins with the least effort.
Two Roseville Street Maintenance Workers from Public Works took home awards from this year’s recent competition. Third Place was awarded to Brandon Murphy (left) and First Place went to John Schwartz (right).
Congratulations to the entire Roseville staff for demonstrating how well we operate as a team.