Transportation Safety | Advanced Safety Health News Blog

Archive for the ‘Transportation Safety’ Category

ASSE Announces Release of New Roadway Work Zone Safety Standards

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

ASSE Press Release Header
For Immediate Release
Contact: Diane Hurns, 847-768-3413, dhurns@asse.org

ASSE Announces Release of New Roadway Work Zone Safety Standards

�
Des Plaines, IL (January 5, 2010) — In an effort to address transportation-related incidents, which are still the number one cause of on-the-job deaths, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of a new voluntary consensus standard, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASSE A10.47-2009 “Work Zone Safety for Highway Construction”.

The A10.47-2009 standard is aimed at protecting workers from injuries and illnesses that result from working in work zones, establishing safe work practices in highway work zones, and preventing vehicle crashes in highway work zones. A work zone is an area of a highway with construction, maintenance/repair or utility work activities. The standard covers workers engaged in construction, utility work, maintenance, or repair activities on any area of a highway.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), out of a total of 5,071 workplace deaths in 2008, 2,053 people died in transportation-related incidents, 1,149 of those deaths were on highways and 322 of those workers died from being struck by a vehicle.

“OSHA has few standards that cover work zone safety,” said A10.47 Subcommittee Chair Scott Schneider, CIH. “The Federal Highway Administration is focused on safety for motorists and workers but also on reducing delays to the traveling public. Work zone safety standards also vary by State. The A10.47 standard is intended to fill the gap and to help contractors develop best practices to protect the safety and health of road construction workers.

Schneider added, “Each year, many construction workers are killed in work zones. They are run over by motorists, backed over by construction vehicles and electrocuted by overhead power lines. This standard deals with this wide range of hazards. Following it could save many of these lives.”

ANSI approved the standard on November 24, 2009 and the effective date is set for February 24, 2010.

The standard will be available soon for purchase. For more information, contact ASSE customer service at 847-699-2929 or e-mail customerservice@asse.org.

ASSE serves as the secretariat for the A10 Accredited Standards Committee on construction and demolition operations. The A10 voluntary consensus standards serve as guides to contractors, labor and equipment manufacturers in the construction and demolition industry.

Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. For more information please go to www.asse.org.

Kentucky Flagger Certification Training

Friday, January 1st, 2010

We are excited to announce that Advanced Safety & Health’s Louisville Kentucky office is now a certified provider of the National Safety Council Flagger training course for Kentucky employers.

Course Information: The flagger course is a combination of lecture, visual presentations, and outdoor exercises lasting approximately four hours. This program follows the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). A written examination will be administered at the conclusion of the course. In accordance with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet requirements, only those individuals who have completed the entire Basic Work Zone and Flagger Course may be tested. Individuals who successfully complete the course and exam will qualify and receive a two (2) year certification to flag on Kentucky roadways.

Course Objective:

Recognize the need to use specific equipment when performing flagging responsibilities.
Correctly execute the basic Stop/Proceed/Slow directions.
Set up a flagger station in such a way as to maximize their own safety and the safety of the crew and road users.
Perform emergency flagging.

Note: While this program meets FHWS (Federal Highway Administration) and OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) requirements, it may not be approved in some states due to State Department of Transportation requirements. This program does meet Kentucky Department of Transportation requirements for Flaggers.

Transportation Industry Has Some Significant Challenges

Tuesday, July 11th, 2006

In 2004, work-related injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers averaged 7.4 in the truck transportation and warehousing industry, the most current information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.In comparison, for the entire private sector, the rate of injuries and illnesses was 4.8 per 100 full-time workers.

Transportation and material-moving occupations accounted for the largest number of fatal work injuries of any major occupational group — 1,490 fatalities, up from 1,393 in 2003.The fatality rate for this group rose from 16.7 fatalities per 100,000 in 2003 to 17.5 in 2004. In addition, motor vehicle operators recorded two-thirds of the fatal work injuries, up 5 percent from 2003. Material-moving occupations, such as forklift operators, recorded the second-highest total of 271 fatalities, up 8 percent from 2003.

Workers in these industries primarily are at risk of injury from transportation incidents, overexertion, being caught in or struck by equipment, falls and assaults. Another common health hazard is the inhalation of vehicle emissions.These statistics demonstrate the need for transportation, distribution and warehousing operations to have a solid accident-prevention program in place.

Vehicle accident prevention

The National Association of Fleet Administrators estimates that 20 percent of employee drivers will have a motor vehicle accident in a given year. These range from small fender benders to multiple fatality events.

Many auto accidents can be prevented by having an effective motor vehicle fleet safety program.

In its most basic form, the program should have the following four core components:

Drivers should have a driver’s record check performed as part of the hiring process and at least annually thereafter. A policy should be in place as to what driving offenses will disqualify them from operating a company vehicle and how many years back the company will look at their driving history.

Drivers should be trained on recognized defensive-driving principles at hire and on a regular basis thereafter.

Businesses should have a system in place to assure that all vehicles are inspected regularly and serviced according to the manufacturers’ recommendations.

Drivers should be trained on what to do if they are involved in an accident. All accidents should be investigated to determine root cause and preventability. If a driver is found to be at fault, he/she should be retrained. It should be assured the driver understands what to do to prevent this type of incident from recurring.

Equipment safety concerns

Powered industrial trucks or forklifts are another major source of accidents in this industry.

Many incidents occur when lift trucks are inadvertently driven off loading docks or fall between docks and an unsecured trailer. Co-workers often are struck by a lift truck or fall while on elevated pallets and tines.

Accidents usually can be attributed to a lack of safe operating procedures, no safety-rule enforcement, and insufficient or inadequate training.

There are strict occupational safety laws that employers must follow involving the operation of these devices, as well as training for the operators. In addition, federal law does not allow anyone under the age of 18 to operate a powered industrial truck.

Forklift safety is a high priority with the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

For the motor-freight transportation and warehousing industry, this is the most frequently violated and cited safety standard.

Material handling, other factors

Manual lifting and material handling is another major source of injury.

Employers should provide general ergonomic and back-safety training at the time of hire and on a regular basis thereafter.

Whenever possible, minimize the need for manual lifting by using layout design and engineering techniques. Encourage and enforce proper lifting techniques and buddy lifting where necessary.

Assault is another injury source for the transportation and logistics industry. Employers should have a clear plan on how employees should properly respond to and handle these types of incidents.

An important health concern for warehousing operations is carbon monoxide exposure from the combustion process of improperly maintained forklifts and inadequate facility ventilation.

It is imperative that warehousing operators assure that facilities are properly ventilated and that propane-fueled industrial trucks are properly tuned.

While all employers should maintain a sound safety and health program for their employees, it is crucial for the transportation and warehousing industry to be more vigilant in their efforts.

Dwayne Towles is a safety consultant with Advanced Safety & Health LLC, a Louisville occupational safety and health consulting firm. Contact him at dtowles@AdvancedSafetyHealth.com.

Categories

Archive for the ‘Transportation Safety’ Category

ASSE Announces Release of New Roadway Work Zone Safety Standards

Kentucky Flagger Certification Training

Transportation Industry Has Some Significant Challenges