OTA Dispatch Issue 2, 2021

36 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Three Essentials for Every Safety Program By AdamWilliamson, OTA’s Director of Training & Development AN ACCIDENT-FREE WORKPLACE is not something that just happens. Potential hazards must be clearly identified, and concrete steps taken to find workable solutions. The occasional safety related comment or suggestion by management to employees is certainly needed, but that is only part of it. A comprehensive safety program must be developed and implemented. When building a comprehensive safety program, it is important to approach each area of concern from three different perspectives: Education: It should never be assumed that employees (especially new hires) will automatically know how to perform all aspects of their jobs safely. Even professionals with considerable experience in the trucking industry may not be familiar with your specific equipment or how parts of your operations may differ from their experience. Always take the time to properly orient new hires to their jobs and alert them to potential safety hazards. Ongoing and re-occurring training may also be appropriate or even required in same cases (for example, Hazmat awareness certification needs to be renewed for each applicable employee every three years). It is the company’s responsibility to make sure every active employee is adequately trained to perform their duties in a safe and compliant matter. Enforcement: It should never be assumed that all employees will always comply with all aspects of their safety training. Due diligence must be applied to confirm that training is being followed, identify possible negligence, or even deliberate efforts to circumvent safety policy. This task can be particularly challenging with drivers who spend much of their time on the road and not under direct observation (vehicle cameras, GPS systems, and other safety-oriented technology can make a huge difference here). Remember that a company can often be held liable for not requiring their employees to comply with safety policies (especially if infractions were known but never addressed). Engineering: The overall environment and equipment that employees work in and with can have a huge impact on safety. All shop, warehouse, and yard areas should be kept clean. Working machinery, stairways, elevated walkways, and other hazards must have adequate barriers or railing systems in place. Vehicles need to be inspected and maintained according to standard. FMCSA, OSHA, and Hazardous Materials handbooks can be referred to for more specific guidance on all three of these points. These three safety perspectives are sometimes compared to the three legs of a stool in terms on their interdependence on each other for functionality. A stool needs all three legs in order stay upright (removing even one leg completely compromises its balance and stability). In a similar manner, a good education strategy is of no value if it is not being enforced; a rigid enforcement policy is of no value if employees are not educated on what is expected; and neither of the first two elements can be successful if employees lack the proper tools to facilitate their work. All three are essential. Developing a comprehensive safety program is no small undertaking. If your company needs assistance in improving their safety performance, feel free to contact OTA to learn more about our safety training and consulting services. Contact OTA if you need assistance with creating a safety policy for your organization. Email safety@ortrucking.org. SAFETY