Safety Message
Part of the pride of any job is doing it safely. As our safety director mentions, an accident is an unexpected event but that doesn't necessarily mean an unpreventable one! By recongnizing and adopting a few traits in your daily worklife, whether in the office, on the road, or at a delivery, you can help to control your own safety and those around you!
Safety tips and suggestions
Alert! Truckers at risk more than 30% of the national industrial average for Deaths and injury that are non-highway related! Recent statistics show a steady rise in industrial accidents involving drivers. Possibly the cause is that truckers, especiailly independent ones do not have access to routine centralized safety update and trainning methods as factories do.
Recoginize dangerous items or situations around you. This could be anything from the weather to a wet warehouse floor. In the office how about that
filing cabinet drawer left openDon't reach. Believe it or not whether in a car or truck the "reach factor" is always at or near the top of accident factors
Equipment and preparation. Inspection and repair of tires, brakes, and general condition are paramount to good safety habits..
Alighting to or from the truck. The steps on a truck were meant for safety not expediency. Always face the cab when moving up or down and never rush your entering or exiting the truck.
Shoes and clothing. Truckers have to dress for comfort certainly but don't forget that just as your tasks change, so must your shoes and clothing! Sneakers may be comfortable for driving but terrible for unloading a trailer or being in a warehouse. Their light-weight changes your "leverage quotiant" thus making slip and fall accidents much more likely, especially when pulling or lifting. Always have the workboots handy. Loose clothing, jewelry,etc can be a problem especially in warehouses with conveyor systems so make sure to take precaution as needed.
You may know what the weather outside is but your dispatcher or customer probably doesn't. A friendly reminder to them of your current weather condition is appreciated.
Cleanliness. A truck is a unique thing. It's home away from home, office away from office, and your tool to make a living. Keeping it clean may seem obvious but an amazing number of serious accidents happen due to clutter, windshield grime, loose items in the truck. Just as you secure cargo, secure yourself and belongings.
Always WEAR the SEAT Belt. Amazing how one of the least expensive items on a vehicle can protect the most important items-You and any passengers
Cell phones are terrific but not if you are holding them and driving. Our guess is that texting while driving is definately even more out of the question!
Announcements
August safety meeting was centered around the topics of properly prepared logs and company initiatives in assisting the drivers with their accuracy and timliness in turning in their logs
Safety meeting held April 27, 2009 with our Muscle Shoals agency manager Ricky conducting. Discussion was primarily based on new regulations petaining to metals and coils, securing, insuring, etc.
May safety meeting was centered around the annual DOT roadside inspection blitz. Our management approach to this was two-fold in making certain that the driver and dispatch personel were working together to correct issues before they arise at the inspection sites and to send a message to the driver owners that safety and compliance should always be an ongoing process not just for DOT purposes but for their safety as well.