Safety Stand Down Toolbox Talk – Driving www.safetystanddown.ca

Safety Stand Down A meeting of frontline workers and senior executives

Safety Stand Down There is an urgent need for workplace safety: the ripple effect of injuries is devastating. family coworkers company

Safety Stand Down Why discuss driving safety? Collisions are the leading cause of unintentional injury for Albertans under 30. And 89% of them are the result of driver error. They are the most common hazardous activity people do each day—on and off the job. Here are some recent driving-related incidents and what we have learned from them. (Discuss incidents from your organization.

Safety Stand Down Before hitting the road Make sure you have the correct training and qualifications: defensive driving training or driving safety awareness training, right class of license for vehicle used, and clean driver’s abstract.

Safety Stand Down Inspect your vehicle’s condition, contents, and cargo: pre-trip inspections and tire safety, safety and survival equipment (see below for details), cargo in the cab, and securing cargo.

Safety Stand Down Make sure you’re properly using the PPE, safety, and survival equipment for driving: seatbelts, head restraints, air bags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), communication device and radio (for road/weather updates), fire extinguisher and first aid kit, and survival kit.

Safety Stand Down Hazardous roads, weather, and traffic Be aware of road-related hazards: road surface, construction, underpasses and bridges, country roads, and mountain roads.

Safety Stand Down Be aware of weather-related hazards: summer weather (fog, rain, lightning, hail, tornados, and floods), and winter weather (freezing rain, ice, black ice, snow, blowing snow, and whiteouts).

Safety Stand Down Be aware of traffic-related hazards: pedestrians, bicycles, animals, other vehicles, and trains.

Safety Stand Down Hazardous driver conditions Be aware of the hazards and consequences of impairment: fatigue, medication and medical conditions, and alcohol and drugs.

Safety Stand Down Be aware of the hazards and consequences of distractions-one of the most common factors in collisions: in the driver’s head (daydreaming, emotions, etc.), in the vehicle (cell phones, electronics, passengers, eating/drinking, etc.), and outside the vehicle (heavy traffic, construction, roadside emergencies, signage, etc.).

Safety Stand Down Preventing, avoiding, and surviving collisions The best idea is prevention, so watch for these common problem zones: speeding, passing and lane changing, following too close, going through intersections, and backing up.

Safety Stand Down The next thing to know is how to avoid a collision if it is about to happen, using these options: stopping quickly, turning quickly, and speeding past.

Safety Stand Down The last thing to consider is survival, including what to do if you’re involved in or witness a crash: moving vehicles out of the way, not standing between the crash and traffic, not smoking and turning off ignitions of damaged vehicles, staying away from downed powerlines, contacting emergency services, not moving injured people unless they are in danger from explosion, fire, etc., and using first aid training as appropriate

Safety Stand Down A good driver is a defensive driver What the concept of defensive driving means: courtesy caution common sense

Safety Stand Down Here are some defensive driving tips to remember: looking ahead, leaving a space cushion, using eye contact with others on the road, using mirrors and checking gauges, using signal lights, following the rules and speed limits, driving according to vehicle limitations and road/weather conditions, being on the lookout for other vehicles and driver behaviours, and not having an “it’s my right of way” attitude.

Safety Stand Down Special considerations for offroading Many workers also have to drive offroad vehicles such as ATVs, snowmobiles, or even boats. You should talk to them about the following: being prepared (including driver training and qualifications), vehicle condition, contents, and cargo using PPE and safety equipment properly, and watching for terrain and weather hazards. (You may also wish to discuss your safe work practices and procedures for working alone).

Safety Stand Down What can I do to help? I take safety personally as a senior executive because... (give reasons). I am committed to seeing you go home safely to your family at the end of the day.

Conclusion We need your input. If you have an unaddressed safety concern about driving or any other topic, let us know. Talk to your supervisor, your manager, or even me.