Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/332591
78 • JULY 2014 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Guidelines for a fleet motor vehicle safety program COURTESY DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE The act of driving or riding in a motor vehicle, in and of itself, places workers at increased risk of suffering serious injury or death. In an effort to reduce the potential for vehicle acci- dents, all motor vehicles shall be kept in good operating condition and shall be equipped with appropriate safety equipment. Drivers and passengers must obey all traffic laws when operating or rid- ing in a vehicle. Drivers shall practice the follow- ing safety tips to promote good driv- ing: • Stay alert at the wheel. Do not drive more than three hours at one time during the day or two hours at one time during the night without a break. • Avoid driving more than 8 hours within one 24-hour period. • Avoid distractions (radio, cell phone, eating, etc.) giving driving full attention. • Always drive defensively, scan- ning the road ahead as well as objects to the side and rear of the vehicle. • Know, understand and respect local and state driving regulations and laws. • Keep vehicle in safe operating condition. • Avoid driving when sleepy, ill, upset, or angry. The following safety equipment is required on all Texas automobiles, vans, and trucks (as well as most other states) and must be maintained in good operating condition at all times: • adequate rear view mirrors, • safety belts, • windshield wipers, • horn, • correctly adjusted headlights, • brakes with adequate stopping power, • emergency brakes, • turn/directional signals, • tires with adequate tread, • brake lights, • taillights, • license plate light, and • approved exhaust/muffler sys- tem. Maintenance and upkeep of re- quired safety equipment shall be given a high priority for attention. The ap- propriate supervisor shall take prompt action to correct deficiencies noted. If such corrections cannot be accom- plished in a timely fashion, the vehicle in question is to be taken out of service until repairs can be made. Special attention should be given to the following items: • Brakes: Check to see that the pedal stays well above the floor when stepped on. If the vehicle pulls to one side when you use the brakes, or there are scraping or squealing noises, the brakes may need to be repaired. • Lights: Check for burned-out bulbs and clean the light lenses often. Dirty headlights can cut your night vi- sion by one half. Burned-out signal lights or brake lights do not allow other drivers to know what the vehicle is doing. • Windows and windshields: Keep the glass clean, inside and out, to re- duce glare and improve vision. Wind- shields should be intact. Cracked windshields should be replaced. A liability insurance identification card must be kept in the glove com- partment or other easily accessible lo- cation in the vehicle. Use of safety belts One of the most important safety devices in any vehicle is the passenger restraint or seat belt. Under Texas law, the use of safety belts is required in all passenger automobiles and light- weight trucks operated on the roads and highways. Backing of vehicles Backing of vehicles should be avoided, whenever possible. Routes of travel should be planned and easy exit parking spaces selected to avoid backing. If backing a vehicle is necessary, the following steps should be followed to avoid accident: • All drivers shall use a spotter to help them when backing. The driver and spotter should use hand signals instead of verbal com- mands. The driver shall keep the spot- ter in view to ensure that the vehicle does not strike him. • If there is no spotter available, the driver shall get out and walk around the vehicle prior to backing to check for children and pedestrians, overhead wires, soft or muddy areas, potholes, tire hazards, unoccupied ve- hicles, and other dangers. • The driver shall back slowly using rearview mirrors frequently. • If backing vision is obscured, the driver shall stop the vehicle every few feet and get out and walk around the vehicle to check the backing route. Safety guidelines for hauling loads Loads subject to tipping or shift- ing shall be securely fastened to the vehicle. Vehicles shall not be loaded beyond their capacity, whether it is for transporting passengers, goods, or equipment. All tools, equipment, and cargo, when transported along with passen- gers, shall be loaded, placed or secured in such a manner that they will pose no hazard, in any way, to passengers. Whenever a load extends four feet or more beyond the rear bed or body of a vehicle there shall be displayed: • At night, or when visibility is re- duced to less than 1,000 feet, sufficient red reflectors to make the load clearly visible to traffic approaching from any direction. • During the daytime, red flags, not less than 12 inches square, must be placed on the overhanging load to mark its length and width at each place where a red lamp is required on this load at night. In case of an accident If a driver is involved in an acci- dent while driving, they shall: • Stop the vehicle. • Check if anyone is hurt; if so get help. • Contact the appropriate law en- forcement agency and request imme- diate assistance. • Obtain insurance, driver, and ve- hicle information from all drivers in- volved in the accident. • Notify the appropriate supervisor of the details of the accident. (450..03!-5"1+* 12*(4/5#432+/4- &324,24)5+&&4/53,)5.14/5/3!5-+&&1/2- 3,)5(4322/4324)5211.5-244.5*+224/- #1/5.1,5.0#453,)5-!112(53*201,' Schedule 40 Notcher 150,*.+)4-5 0,)00)+3.5!3.45 *+224/-5#1/543*(5 -045'5'5'5 %5 %5 % $.-15$30.3.45045 %+224/ Made In The USA! Lowbuck Notcher with 1 3 ⁄8, 1 5 ⁄8, & 1 7 ⁄8 inches....................... $345.00 Cutter Set for 2-2 1 ⁄2 inches (2 3 ⁄8 inches) ............................ $145.00 Notch, 1 3 ⁄ 8, 1 5 ⁄ 8, 1 7 ⁄ 8 pipe or tubing up to and including Schedule 40 with one machine. 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