Accidents involving vehicles or mobile equipment (excavators, dumpers, etc.) on building sites kill more than a dozen workers a year and injure hundreds more. To help make sure that your workers and outsiders can move around your job sites safely,and keep your insurance premiums down, experts recommend using this checklist:
Keep pedestrians and vehicles apart:
- have separate entry and exit gateways for pedestrians and vehicles
- provide safe pedestrian walkways that take a direct route where possible
- make sure drivers with access to public roads can see both ways
- don’t block walkways or vehicle routes
- install barrier between roads and walks
Minimize vehicle movements:
- provide offsite parking
- control entry to the site
- have storage areas so that delivery vehicles don’t have to cross the site
Control people on site:
- recruit drivers and equipment operators carefully
- make sure that drivers, operators, and those who direct traffic are trained
- manage the activities of visiting drivers
Maximize visibility:
- provide mirrors, CCTV cameras or reversing alarms
- designate signalers to control maneuvers by drivers or equipment operators
- install lighting for use after sunset or in bad weather
- make sure that all pedestrians on the site wear high-visibility clothing
Provide safety signage and instructions:
- ensure that all drivers and workers know and understand the routes and traffic rules on the site
- use standard traffic signs where appropriate
- provide safety instructions to all visitors in advance
For a comprehensive – and free– review of vehicle and mobile vehicle safety practices on your job sites, just give us a call. We’re here to help at any time.
