It is said that what is out of sight is out of mind.

Unfortunately, the same is often true of what is everywhere in sight. Take for example the dump truck, which is used in the utility construction industry to transport materials to and from jobsites. Because we see them all the time, there is a danger of taking them for granted to the point of ignoring the very real hazards they pose. What follows is a close look at dump truck operations with an eye to ensuring that serious injuries and fatalities don’t result from accidents that could have been prevented.

In general, if your company owns its trucks, a fleet operations plan should be established. At minimum the plan should include driver qualification, training, vehicle inspections, maintenance and safety rules. If trucking operations are subcontracted out, then there should be a plan to ensure that the subcontractors’ trucks are in good condition and operated by qualified drivers. Failure to do so could result in your company being held liable by OSHA or the courts if an accident occurs.

Equipment Maintenance

The place to start is with preventive maintenance. As with any other piece of equipment, trucks should be inspected regularly and all defects should be repaired. Prior to operation, the driver should always perform a pre-trip inspection that includes checking lights, turn-signals, mirrors, windshield wipers, tires, fluid levels, brakes and back-up alarm. All should be in good working order before the trucks goes on the road or moves across the jobsite.

In addition to the items checked during pre-trip inspections, drivers and mechanics should regularly inspect: the suspension system to ensure that it provides even suspension; pins and bushings for wear and lubrication; hydraulic cylinders and hoses for leaks or damage; boxes for damage; and anything else that might require routine maintenance.

Driver Qualification

One of the most hazardous situations associated with dumping a load is truck tip-over. Drivers should be trained to avoid surfaces that are sloped to the side such as low road shoulders because they can change the truck’s center of gravity.

All dump truck drivers must be qualified (by training/experience) and have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). No one who has not been prequalified by the fleet manager should be permitted to drive a truck. As part of the prequalification the driver’s license should be verified and an MVR (Driving History Report) check run prior to letting the individual behind the wheel. Take advantage of your insurance agent or company if you don’t have the in-house capability to run an MVR check. Your company certainly does not need someone with a fraudulent driver’s license and/or poor driving record behind the wheel of your big, heavy and very expensive dump truck.

Drivers should be thoroughly familiar with the company fleet safety rules before hitting the road. It’s also a good practice to require drivers to attend a truck driver’s defensive driving course (DDC) such as that offered by the National Safety Council. It will not only help ensure that a safe driver will be behind the wheel, but also will allow the company to take advantage of the premium discount offered by many insurance companies if a predetermined percentage of company drivers have received DDC training.

Elements of Safe Operation

Obviously, there’s more to operating a dump truck than just driving it from point A to point B. One of the most hazardous situations associated with dumping a load is truck tip-over due to an unbalanced load. Drivers should be trained to recognize such hazards as soft soil conditions, uneven surfaces and inadequately compacted fill. They should also avoid surfaces that are sloped to the side such as low road shoulders because they can change the truck’s center of gravity. When spreading dumped material from a moving truck, the driver should make sure that the entire length of travel is relatively level.

Trucks should never be parked close to a trench/excavation, even when they are not loaded because the weight of the vehicle alone is sufficient to cause a cave-in. Vibration caused by a truck can also affect trench wall stability. Trucks should therefore always be loaded and unloaded a safe distance from the edge of an excavation.

Drivers should make sure there will be adequate clearance from overhead power lines and obstructions, especially when raising the truck bed. They should also check to see that workers are clear of the truck. Additionally, all workers should be instructed to stay clear of the back and sides of trucks when the load is dumping.

Before raising the dump bed, the driver should ensure that the tailgate and dump bed are unlocked. The driver should return to the driver’s seat and should not stand beside the truck or on the running board when dumping. Trucks should be separated from other vehicles and equipment during a dump to ensure that if the truck does tip over it will not cause an injury to another driver or equipment operator or damage to other equipment.

Traffic Control Inside the Work Site

Two-thirds of the worker fatalities resulting from being struck or run over by vehicles occurs inside the work zone. Whatever the organized system of traffic control, it should take dump truck operations into consideration, ensuring that the trucks flow in, around and back out again according to an established plan.

Because drivers of dump trucks cannot see who or what is behind them when backing up, eliminating the need for them to back up will make the jobsite safer. That said, unlike a flat-bed truck delivering a load of pipe that will be unloaded by a crane, excavator or forklift, dump trucks must often back up to dump a load clear of the roadway. When it is necessary for a dump truck to move in reverse, an audible back-up warning device must be used or a spotter stationed to guide the driver and ensure that workers do not walk behind the truck when it is backing up.

All workers inside the work zone who could be exposed to vehicle or equipment traffic should be required to wear high visibility (lime green or orange) clothing so that drivers will be able to see them. The clothing does not necessarily have to include the reflective stripes that are required of workers exposed to traffic on the road. Check local and state requirements. The important thing is that the workers’ clothing is easy to spot by the driver and that the worker does not blend in with the surroundings. All workers should also be instructed to make eye contact with the driver before approaching the truck.

Based on the foregoing, is it time for you to take a closer look at your dump truck operations in the interests of providing a safer workplace? If so, remember the basics I’ve outlined — equipment maintenance, driver qualification, elements of safe operation and traffic control. Whether we’re talking about your trucks or those of a subcontractor, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring that injuries and fatalities don’t result from accidents that could have been prevented.

George Kennedy is NUCA Vice President of Safety.