You can’t have one without the other – proper truck spotting and fall prevention equipment are important parts of a comprehensive truck safety program. Without both of these components, you’re putting your workers at risk.
Between 2003 and 2012, 56 tractor trailer fatal injuries resulted from contact with a large object or equipment, and 28 deaths resulted from trips and falls. These figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics demonstrate why you need well-trained workers directing drivers as they spot trucks within your facility and safety equipment that mitigates the risk of falls.
Do your truck spotting procedures work hand in hand with the right safety equipment to protect your workers?
Mitigate Risk With Accurate Truck Spotting
While fall prevention equipment saves lives when used properly, you must line up your trucks accurately with equipment for it to be effective. Otherwise, you leave gaps employees could fall through. You should also account for changing conditions and adjust procedures accordingly. For example, a new truck may have different access points to align with equipment.
Ultimately, how well a driver spots a truck is more important than any other safety solution. If you’re just beginning to improve your truck spotting, start by creating designated loading and unloading spots. Drivers should park there consistently.
You need a strategic method for spotting trucks that ensures proper alignment and prevents drivers from accidentally backing up into an employee. Follow these best practices recommended by OSHA
- Workers should use agreed-upon hand signals
- Spotters should keep visual contact with the driver
- Drivers must stop backing up if they can’t see the spotter
- Spotters and drivers must focus only on the task at hand
- Workers shouldn’t use phones, headphones or other distracting technologies
- Spotters must wear high-visibility clothing, especially at night
Truck spotting is not intuitive; it must be taught. Provide ongoing employee training to keep best practices fresh in mind.
Install Safety Equipment Suited To Your Procedures
Depending on your site and specifications, some safety equipment is more suited to your truck loading procedures than others. You should speak with an expert about how the following types of equipment fit your requirements:
- Track mounted gangways
- Swing gates
- Folding stairs
- Single hatch truck access platforms
- Bottom loading arms
- Manifolds
- Full truck enclosures
- Transloading portable access platforms
- Flat ramps
- Flatbed tarping platforms
- Overhead tarping systems
- Canopies systems
Many safety equipment models are flexible to your procedures. For example, track mounted gangways reduce the amount of time drivers need to spot and respot tank trucks. This safety solution gives operators access to multiple hatches without requiring drivers to move the vehicle from its initial location.
Ensure Truck Spotting And Equipment Work Together
You reduce the risk of improper spotting and accidents when you only have to spot a truck once. Your workers can take their time ensuring a truck is properly aligned with equipment. Plus, they increase efficiency and throughput with the added time savings.
Truck spotting and safety equipment must function together to be effective. If you spot a truck accurately in its designated space, a worker can still fall while loading or unloading without a fall prevention system in place. Conversely, fall prevention equipment doesn’t actually prevent accidents if truck and equipment access points aren’t aligned.
You have to understand your site procedures and the reason behind them when designing a comprehensive safety system. Learn about your risks and what prevents workers from safely accessing your trucks. With the right safety program, your company protects lives, complies with OSHA regulations and reduces expenses associated with employee injury.
Truck spotting and safety equipment must function together to be effective. If you spot a truck accurately in its designated space, a worker can still fall while loading or unloading without a fall prevention system in place. Conversely, fall prevention equipment doesn’t actually prevent accidents if truck and equipment access points aren’t aligned.
You have to understand your site procedures and the reason behind them when designing a comprehensive safety system. Learn about your risks and what prevents workers from safely accessing your trucks. With the right safety program, your company protects lives, complies with OSHA regulations and reduces expenses associated with employee injury.
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