Ground Guide Procedures

GROUND GUIDE SAFETY PROCEDURES Ground guides must be trained in standard arm and hand signals and flashlight signals before guiding a wheeled vehicle Arm and hand signals are the basic method used for ground guiding Drivers and ground guides (2) will coordinate signals before ground guide operations Voice signals between the ground guides and driver can be misunderstood and should not be used except in an emergencies

GROUND GUIDING - Only one ground guide gives signals to the driver. - Be sure that everyone involved (the driver and the ground Guides) understand who will give the signal and who will receive it before any movement is done. - If sight between the driver and the ground guide making the signal is lost, the driver must stop the vehicle until sight and signal is again visible or the confusion is cleared up.

CAUTION The ground guides should keep 10-15 yards between themselves and the vehicle to the front, rear and flanks. They should never be directly behind the vehicle. Ground guides will not position themselves between the vehicle being guided and another object where and inadvertent engine surge or momentary loss of vehicle control could cause Injury. Drivers of vehicles will immediately stop their vehicles if they lose sight of ground guides or note that the guide is dangerously positioned between the vehicle and another object.

CAUTION CONT’D Drivers of vehicles in such cases will secure their vehicle, dismount and make an on-the-spot correction before commencing operations The ground guide will at no time walk or run in front of or backwards while ground guiding The driver will at no time while moving the vehicle open the door to look behind the vehicle

NIGHT GROUND GUIDE -The best method to ground guide a vehicle into the area is to use a screened flashlight - Ground Guides move forward to make sure the way is clear then turn around to face the vehicle, and give the proper signal with the flashlight - The driver moves the vehicle forward until the flashlight signal goes out. Then he/she stops the vehicle. This process is repeated as the vehicle is moved forward to its final stop

GROUND GUIDE PROCEDURE Use this procedure when there is only one ground guide or when a ground guide is not available, such as in the civilian domain. The ground guide or the vehicle driver will dismount and walk completely around the vehicle to: Verify clearance Determine visual clear distance with a ground reference point from the cab of the vehicle. Mount the vehicle, sound the horn, and back to the rear of the pre-selected ground reference point. Stop and repeat the process as necessary until the desired vehicle position is obtained.

GROUND GUIDES Ground guides are required when wheeled vehicles are backed. However, the number of ground guides used is determined by visibility restrictions ( cargo, darkness, and so forth). The horn will be sounded before any backing operation is done. When backing at night, use the same flashlight procedures to safely back the vehicle.

5 BASIC RULES TO STOP BACKING ACCIDENTS 1. GET THE WHOLE PICTURE 2. BACK FROM THE DRIVER’S SIDE 3. BACK SLOWLY 4. CHECK BOTH SIDES AS YOU BACK 5. USE A RELIABLE GUIDE

GET OUT AND GET THE PICTURE GET THE COMPLETE PICTURE BEFORE YOU BACK-UP. WALK AROUND YOUR VEHICLE TO EXAMINE THE AREA INTO WHICH YOU MUST BACK IN. DON’T JUST LOOK, APPLY REAL CALCULATED ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION. CHECK TOP CLEARANCES CHECK SIDE CLEARANCES AFTER GETTING THE COMPLETE PICTURE, GET INTO YOUR VEHICLE AND START BACKING IMMEDIATELY-BEFORE THE SITUATION HAS A CHANCE TO CHANGE

SIDE BACK FROM THE DRIVER’S POSITION IS EVERYTHING IN SAFE BACKING. A SAFE POSITION TO BACK FROM IS ONE THAT PERMITS BACKING FROM THE DRIVER’S SIDE, AND ONE THAT STARTS BACKING MOVEMENT AS CLOSE TO THE AREA AS POSSIBLE. BACKING FROM THE DRIVER’S SIDE REDUCES SOME OF THE GUESSWORK AND GIVES THE DRIVER BETTER CONTROL.

BACK SLOWLY BACK SLOWLY, NEVER ATTEMPT TO BACK IN RAPIDLY. YOUR VEHICLE WILL BEHAVE AWKWARDLY WHEN DRIVEN IN REVERSE AND MAY QUICKLY VEER OUT OF CONTROL AND COLLIDE WITH OBJECTS ON EITHER SIDE. WHEN YOU BACK SLOWLY, YOU KEEP CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AND CAN EASE UP TO A DOCK WITH A FEATHER TOUCH.

CHECK BOTH SIDES AS YOU BACK DON’T DEPEND ENTIRELY ON MIRRORS TO JUDGE IF YOU HAVE CORRECTLY GAUGED YOUR CLEARANCE TO THE RIGHT AND THE TOP, YOU ONLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE. USE YOUR OUTSIDE MIRRORS, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT AS OFTEN AS IT IS NECESSARY DURING THE BACKING MOVEMENT. DON’T DEPEND ENTIRELY ON MIRRORS TO JUDGE DISTANCE TO REAR MIRRORS HELP YOU CHECK CLEARANCES AND ENABLE YOU TO SPOT PERSONS THAT MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE INTO YOUR PATH.

USE A RELIABLE GUIDE NEVER HESITATE TO ASK SOMEONE TO HELP YOU BACK. EXPERT DRIVERS UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE HAZARDS OF BACKING AND USE ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. A GUIDE (2) IS SUPPOSED TO WATCH THE AREA INTO WHICH YOU WILL BE MOVING AND KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR BLIND ZONE. THE GUIDE SHOULD STAND WHERE HE CAN CLEARLY SEE YOU REAR GUIDE AND THE AREA TO THE REAR OF YOUR VEHICLE.

USE A RELIABLE GUIDE CONT’D MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A RELIABLE PERSON FOR A GUIDE AND ALSO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO AND AGREE ON THE SIGNALS.

ARM AND HAND SIGNALS

REVIEW Ground Guide Safety Procedures Ground Guide Caution Ground Guiding at night When Ground Guides are required Using one Ground Guide Five Basic Rules to prevent Backing Accidents Basic Arm and Hand Signals