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Transportation is a vital part of the world’s economy and the lifeline of the supply chain. This industry grossed $561.20 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019 [1]. Every industry has safety issues and the transportation industry is not immune. Keeping transportation workers safe with the proper training and equipment will keep the supply chain thriving and help keep the overall community safe.
Safety equipment for the transportation industry is designed to protect personnel and assets during the loading, unloading, and delivery of goods and products. In addition to safeguarding the vehicles used for transportation such as trucks, ships or trailers, transportation safety equipment is also intended for industry-related facilities like loading docks, warehouses and hubs.
Checkers is the industry leader in workplace safety equipment. We supply facilities all over the world with the safety solutions they need to protect their employees and assets. To help you find the safety equipment that is best suited to your needs, here is an overview of some of the safety equipment from Checkers that is ideal for the transportation industry.
Transportation Safety Equipment
The best safety equipment will provide solutions for any motion-related activity to ensure vehicular and pedestrian safety. Commercial vehicles have the added difficulty of navigating among non-commercial vehicles and pedestrians daily. By using the right equipment, transportation companies can reduce the risks and respond to emergency situations appropriately when they arise.
Wheel Chocks
Improperly secured at-rest vehicles and equipment pose a potential threat to personnel and assets. Wheel chocks from Checkers are designed to secure heavy vehicles and equipment in order to prevent unintentional movement or rolling.
Wheel Chocks feature an all-weather polyurethane construction that is resistant to tears, oils and solvents. Polyurethane chocks are also durable and lightweight for easy transportation. Wheel chocks for the transportation industry are ideal for securing trailers, trucks, and forklifts when not in use to prevent unintended movement.
Warning Whips
Warning whips from Checkers are designed to maximize the visibility of hard-to-see vehicles in all weather conditions. Vehicle safety whips for trailers, trucks and other equipment are ideal for industrial work sites to provide reliable visibility in a variety of working environments.
Warning whips feature a threaded hex base for easy installation and are available in 3-, 5-, 6-,8-, 10-, and 12-foot lengths. The high-visibility color of warning whips makes them easy to spot from great distances and will help keep personnel safe during the loading and unloading of goods.
Ground Protection Matting
Ground protection matting and outrigger pads from Checkers are designed to provide a stable platform for heavy vehicles and equipment while minimizing damage to sensitive agricultural zones. In the Transportation industry, outrigger pads can also be used to stabilize cranes or other heavy equipment as they load goods or containers onto trucks and ships.
Cable Protectors
Cables and hoses are often used in the transportation industry to supply power, water or fuel to loading sites or vehicles. If left unsecured, these cables and hoses can be a tripping hazard for personnel and cables and hoses themselves can be damaged by vehicles.
Cables protectors from Checkers are designed to secure cables and hoses and offer safe crossing for vehicles and pedestrians in industrial work areas. Cable protectors feature a durable polyurethane construction and a modular interlocking design that allows users to extend cable protection to any desired length.
Proper Safety Equipment Can Help to Minimize the Risk for Injury
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the transportation industry is one of the most dangerous industries. A report released by the BLS in 2019 shows that almost 1 in 5 fatally injured workers in the entire American workforce was a long-haul or delivery-truck driver.
Safety equipment from Checkers is designed to protect personnel and reduce on-the-job injuries. Because of the prevalence of injury in the transportation industry, it is imperative that facilities implement proper safety procedures and equipment to protect their workers.
OSHA Vehicle Safety Checklist
Unfortunately, the roadway and worksites are not a closed environment. Preventing transportation-related accidents requires traffic safety principles and sound safety management practices.
According to OSHA, someone dies in a motor vehicle crash every 12 minutes. An injury occurs every 10 seconds, and a crash occurs every five seconds [3]. Implementing a vehicle safety checklist can reduce risks and protect your company's bottom line.
A vehicle checklist can help employees determine the safety of the vehicles or machinery they operate. All drivers/operators should inspect their vehicles at the beginning of each shift. The purpose of an inspection is to ensure that they are in safe operating condition and free of apparent damage, and all defects must be corrected before the vehicle is placed in service.
Some standard items that should be on the vehicle checklist include:
- Proper registration and proof of insurance in the vehicle
- Working headlights, taillights, and brake lights
- Working horn
- Functional brake systems
- Intact windshield and powered windshield wipers
- Tires with proper inflation and at least 1 millimeter of tread
- Exhaust system with no leaks, noise, or smoke
- Working rearview mirror and side mirrors
- Doors and windows that open and close freely
- Fuel tank free from leaks, with a gas cap
- Seat belts in working order
- All fluids filled to the correct level
- Stocked with emergency and safety equipment such as traffic cones, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit
Heavy equipment and construction vehicles require these additional inspections:
- A back-up alarm that is audible from 200 feet away
- Roll-over protection structures
- Unimpaired vision from installed equipment and accessories to the front or sides of the vehicle
- Visible or audible warning when the elevating mechanism is activated (dump trucks)
- Properly secured loads
- Safety chains on compression hose fittings are in place and in working order (on pile drivers)
Keeping your transportation fleet safe takes some planning. With a little help from safety equipment from Checkers, you can rest assured that your workers and the surrounding community are safe and productive.