Transportation and Long-haul Trucking Work Risks
The biggest hazard to people within the transportation industry is motor vehicle crashes. Truckers operate oversized vehicles, and these are rife with blind spots. Navigating a highway at intensely high speeds that is crowded with hundreds of other vehicles is tough work. Plus, truckers have to drive through dark nights on poorly lit roads and through inclement weather.Vehicle crashes may be the most apparent hazard to transport workers, but there are countless other dangers of the job.
On-The-Job Risks Faced by Transport Workers
- Falls: The door to the driver’s seat of an oversized vehicle is usually in an awkward, high position. Drivers can injure themselves by falling while entering or exiting their vehicles.
- Ergonomic injuries: Drivers can sustain injuries from sitting in awkward, uncomfortable positions for long periods of time while driving.
- Fires, explosions, and burns: Drivers who transport contaminants or hazardous chemicals are at risk of fires, explosions, and burns if their cargo is improperly stored, or in the event of a collision.
- Poisoning from exhaust gasses: Truckers can be injured or killed from a carbon monoxide leak
- Struck by/Caught between injuries: Truckers can be injured when performing maintenance on their vehicles, or they can be caught between trailers when trying to disengage one from the other.
Having written safety programs is a great way to prevent transport incidents and injuries. By having a standardized series of safety programs, you can ensure that all employees have undergone the same training and are working with the same base of knowledge regarding driving and roadside safety. This is especially critical in the transport/trucking industry, as most of your employees will be working alone. In the event of an emergency, an employee will have no one to rely on but himself to remember the safety training and respond correctly.
Benefits of Industrial Safety Programs & Training
Developing thorough safety protocols that support and encourage safety culture within the workplace has many benefits. Safety programs that are geared towards your industry and your unique work environments help give your team the knowledge they need to perform their jobs safely. Frequent training that is easily accessible ensures everyone has the most current and accurate information. Benefits of industrial safety programs and trainings include:
- Increased employee awareness
- Decreased injuries & illness
- Limits potential hazards
- Prevents jobsite accidents
- Promotes strong safety culture
- Boosts job productivity
- Ensures ongoing safety compliance
Safety Manuals for Trucking & Transportation Companies
There are many safety programs that you can adapt to your transportation company to protect your drivers. At Industrial Compliance & Safety, we will look at the specifications of your hiring client and the regulations of OSHA to write a series of custom written safety programs for your trucking company.
Most Common Transport/ Trucking Safety Programs
- Inclement weather
- Fall protection and prevention
- Chemical handling and storage
- Carbon monoxide detection
- Road Safety
- Defensive Driving Techniques
- Drugs and Alcohol
If you run a transportation and trucking company, then you may be asked by your hiring client to become certified with ISNetworld® or Avetta®. We can help you with the certification process no matter where you’re from in the world.
Benefits of a Safety Compliance Consultant
The use of a safety compliance consultant has additional benefits for contractors. Using a compliance consultant shows industrial qualification firms and potential hiring clients that you are operating in good faith. Contractors who work hand in hand with a third-party consulting company, show that a good faith effort is being put forth towards improving the safety of their employees.
State and federal regulations are constantly being reviewed and revised to address new concerns in regards to environmental responsibility, safety, and employee health. New equipment, new processes and new technology all create new opportunities for risk requiring new regulation and safety measures. Industrial compliance safety consultants monitor these regulation and certification updates for you. They keep your company responsible and responsive to industry changes while your team maintains focus on the job.
At Industrial Compliance & Safety, our professional team can help your company achieve compliance with trucking and transportation safety. You can become certified by a variety of prequalification services, including ISNetworld® and Avetta®. If you choose to work with our team of safety compliance consultants, we will write custom safety programs that both satisfy your client’s needs and protect your employees from the many risks within this unique industry. Contact us to create a new program or update your existing one.
