Trucking Safety Tips

Safety is a subject that all truckers need to keep at the top of their list of things to think about when on the road. Truck driving is a profession that not only comes with a decent salary, but it’s also one that comes with risks for injury and even fatality in the line of work. According to the FMCSA, there were more than 4300 fatal accidents involving large trucks and buses as well as more than 87,000 involved in accidents that resulted in injury in 2015.

Below are tips to keep truckers and motorists on the road safe from harm on the road.

1. Stay Alert! Truck drivers need to stay alert and keep an eye on their surroundings. When traffic is heavy and congested, check for safe ways to slide out of line to avoid a crash. To stay alert, it’s important to get enough sleep before jumping behind the wheel. Fatigued driving is a huge contributor to fatal crashes and can be avoided with rest and paying attention when driving.

2. If a trucker needs to park the truck, it should never be parked on the side of the road without using flashers, safety triangles and flares to alert other drivers that the truck is parked. Unless the truck is having a mechanical issue and is not able to pull off the road at the next exit, it should not park on the side of any road where the speed limit is higher than 30 mph or where it will obstruct the view for other motorists to safely drive. If the truck breaks down, it is best to contact a licensed heavy duty truck transporter to make sure it can be safely moved off the roadway as fast as possible to reduce the risk of an accident.

3. Slow Down! Big trucks simply do not maneuver like a small sports car will around a curve and they certainly won’t stop on a dime if someone abruptly stops in front of them. Truckers need to watch their speed and reduce it around curves, in work zones and when traffic is congested to avoid a crash.

4. Blind Spots. All vehicles have blind spots, but for a big truck, it can be difficult to see small vehicles on the road. Truckers need to check their blind spots frequently because cars often do not realize that there are certain areas that truck drivers just cannot see them. For car and small vehicle drivers, truck drivers may not be able to see you when your vehicle is positioned in the following areas around the truck:

• Behind the truck.
• Beside the truck at the front of the cab.
• Beside the truck but in a bad location that is too close for the side mirrors to see.

5. Weather Updates! Whether the sun is bright and shining when you head out in the truck or you see cloudy skies ahead, a trucker always needs to stay updated on the weather report for all areas the truck will be driven. Knowing what the weather has in store can help a driver know what to expect and allows the driver to plan on how fast the truck can be driven and how long a delivery may take.

Are you a licensed truck driver who works long hours on the road each day? If so, it is up to you to take safety seriously and stay on top of the things that can cause crashes and pose a risk to your safety and the safety of other motorists on the road.

Lead testing in the workplace: why is it so important?

For a long time, lead appeared to be something of a miracle metal. One of the earliest metals discovered by humans, it’s soft, malleable, and has a low melting temperature, making it perfect for a variety of applications. Back in the days of the Roman Empire it was used to build water pipes, aqueducts and even cooking pots (apparently to enhance the flavour of food!), whilst the ancient Egyptians used it as an ingredient in kohl, a cosmetic applied to the eyes. In more modern times, it was used in ammunition, ceramic glazes, paints and protective coatings.

Unfortunately, in the late 19^th century it was discovered that lead is actually incredibly toxic to mammals. A potent neurotoxin, it accumulates in the bones and soft tissues of the body. This can eventually lead to convulsions, coma and even death at dangerously high levels. This was a huge health hazard. For instance, it was often used as an additive in paint, which it oddly gave a sweet taste to. This made tasting lead paint very tempting for young children, leading to childhood lead poisoning becoming endemic in certain areas. It’s also since been theorised that the Roman’s fondness for lead hastened the Empire’s downfall!

Children are most susceptible to lead poisoning simply because their bodies are smaller. However, bans and regulations around the world mean children are now unlikely to come into contact with lead in their day to day lives. In fact, the group now most at risk of lead poisoning are adults working in the smelting, refining, alloying and casting industries.

Lead is impossible to smell, see or taste, so until symptoms of lead poisoning appear it’s hard to know it’s there. This means lead testing is essential in high risk workplaces to protect against long-term health problems. If it’s present, adequate guidelines should be put in place for the healthy, safety, and general wellbeing of the workforce. Paint Inspection Ltd have created this handy infographic which goes into more detail about the dangers of lead in the workplace…