With road construction season starting to pick up due to warmer temperatures, it’s time to increase public awareness by getting involved in National Work Zone Awareness Week.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is held in April as an annual campaign partnership between state departments of transportation (DOT), national road safety organizations, government agencies, private companies, and individuals like you.

As an employer, you can remind your workers about their responsibility to slow down, pay attention, and be cautious while driving in a work zone – not just in April – throughout the entire year!

Take your time and slow down when driving in an orange zone to prevent an accident!

Driving safely in a work zone is important not only for the workers but also for drivers moving through it. Statistics from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) show about 10-15% of work zone fatalities are workers, which mean that about 85-90% are drivers.

The numbers of accidents that occur in work zones are astonishing. From 2021-2022, commercial motor vehicle and fatal work zone crashes that involved speeding increased. One work zone fatality occurs for every 4 billion vehicle-miles of travel and for every $112 million worth of roadway construction expenditures. Per the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and FHWA, these are the numbers for 2021:

• 106,000 – Estimated total work zone crashes
• 42,000 – Estimated work zone injuries
• 956 – Number of work zone fatalities 
• 323 – Fatal work zone crashes involving a commercial motor vehicle
• 281 – Fatal work zone accidents with speeding as a factor
• 164 – Fatal pedestrian crashes in work zones
• 156 – Fatal work zone crashes involving a rear-end collision
• 120 – Estimated daily work zone injuries

You can reduce the chance of work zone crashes by following these 9 tips provided by Work Zone Safety:

1. Pay attention to work zone signs
2. Leave enough space between you and the motorist in front of you
3. Be prepared to stop or slow unexpectedly
4. Expect to stop when you see a FLAGGER AHEAD sign
5. If stopped or slowed in a traffic queue, consider turning on your flashers to warn traffic coming up behind you
6. Watch for traffic and workers going into or out of the work zone
7. Get into the open lane as soon as possible at lane closures
8. Be aware of motorists racing to get ahead of you or trying to turn in front of you at the last second
9. Use alternative routes to avoid work zones whenever feasible

National Work Zone Awareness Week is a great opportunity to remind your employees to be patient and take their time driving through work zones. There is very little room for error and a few extra minutes could mean the difference in saving a life.

• Learn more about Work Zone Awareness Week
• Browse transportation safety and traffic control signs at ComplianceSigns.com

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Employer Liability

A National Safety Council (NSC) report provides eye-opening information on employer liability and the case for comprehensive cell phone policies. The paper includes sections with case studies, lawsuit awards, federal and state regulations and laws, employer roles, public perceptions and more. Here are some key excerpts from the report:

• An employer may be held legally accountable for negligent employee actions if the employee was acting within the scope of his or her employment at the time of a crash. The key phrase “acting within the scope of his or her employment” can and has been defined broadly in cases of crashes involving cell phones.
• If employers can show that they implemented a total ban policy, educated employees, monitored compliance and enforced the policy, they will be in a more defensible position than if they had not followed these practices.
• The best practice is to ban use of any cell phone device while driving in any vehicle during work hours or for work-related purposes.

The NSC has developed a cell phone policy kit with materials to assist employers with every step of policy development and implementation:

• Building management support to implement a total ban
• Getting employee buy-in to improve compliance
• Educating employees with ready-made promotional pieces

The kit includes a sample total cell phone ban policy and materials to educate management and employees about the risks of hands-free and handheld phones.

Improve Distracted Driving Awareness

Stop texting and driving

Though several distractions cause accidents, cell phones are a big one. NHTSA claims that sending or reading a text while driving 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. So…not recommended.

Ensure your employees keep their eyes on the road while driving for work and during their commutes with a don’t text and drive poster.

Encourage forklift safety

Nearly 95,000 employees are injured each year due to forklift accidents, so your operators must be aware of their surroundings when driving. Driving a forklift while distracted could result in a crash that causes inventory to fall on the forklift or a collision with someone walking through the warehouse.

In other instances, distracted driving could cause the forklift to roll right off the loading dock. None of these situations end well for your operator. So make sure they are aware and drive with care.

Promote safe driving in construction zones

More than 20,000 workers are injured at road construction sites each year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Not only do your employees need to use caution when driving construction equipment, but they need to keep their eyes on the road when entering, exiting, or driving by construction zones. Work Zone Awareness Week occurs during Safe Driving Month to help keep road workers safe.

Encourage safe driving in construction zones and promote awareness when operating construction equipment, especially when backing up. Check these Tips for Backing Up Vehicles Safely.

Keep workers safe on their commute 

Your responsibility for employees’ safety starts and ends the minute they walk through the door, so their commute to and from work isn’t technically your domain. But if you care about your workers—and you should—April is a great time to remind them to drive safely by hanging a safety poster near the exit closest to your parking lot.  

Host a distracted driving awareness meeting

Distracted Driving Awareness Month means you get to host a safety meeting. Ensure you have all the materials you need to drive your point home: Accidents caused by distracted driving are preventable. During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, urge your employees to keep their eyes on the road and drive carefully. 

Free Distracted Driving Resources:

• Download the NSC Safe Driving Kit here.
• Visit the NSC Distracted Driving Awareness Month page for more resources.
• Browse cell phone and texting rules signs at ComplianceSigns.com.

The post April is Distracted Driving Month. These Resources Will Help Protect Your Employees and Your Business appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires workers who may be exposed to vehicular traffic hazards to wear safety vests or other high-visibility safety apparel. OSHA guidelines refer to American National Standards Institute standard 107, which was developed and published by the International Safety Equipment Association. Find out why OSHA requires workers in high-risk environments to wear brightly colored garments made with retroreflective materials and learn more about the requirements for warning vests in ANSI/ISEA 107-2020.

Why OSHA Requires Safety Vests

The General Duty Clause of OSHA or OSH Act, 29 U.S.C. §654(a)(1) requires flaggers and other workers exposed to vehicle traffic in construction zones, on excavation sites or on highways to wear high-visibility safety apparel. Bright vests with retroreflective designs can help drivers of motor vehicles or operators of equipment see workers near the path of travel.

One specific OSHA requirement for warning vests is in the construction standard Subpart G, 29 CFR 1926.201 on signaling. This standard states that garments for flaggers must conform to Part 6 of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The section on Temporary Traffic Control in the MUTCD states that all workers exposed to traffic, including emergency responders, must wear Class 2 or Class 3 vests and garments.

Another relevant federal standard is the Federal Highway Administration rule for Worker Visibility, 23 CFR Part 634. This rule mandates that all workers exposed to traffic or construction equipment within the right-of-way of a federal-aid highway wear safety vests or other HVSA.

Safety Vest Requirements

Safety Vest Required Signs

The OSHA construction standard on signaling recommends that flaggers wear red or orange warning garments and specifies that garments worn at night should be made of reflectorized material. This regulation refers to an early ANSI standard, D6.1-1-1971, that has since been updated.

A 2002 OSHA interpretation of the 1926.201 standard refers to the Millennium Edition of the MUTCD, which allows for a wider range of color choices. During the day, flaggers can wear safety vests in orange, yellow or strong yellow-green, or fluorescent versions of these colors. At night, flaggers should wear garments made with retroreflective materials in any of these colors, silver or white. Employers can post an OSHA notice or other signs to remind workers to wear warning vests.

While OSHA does not specify a specific type of garment, fasteners or reflective strip design, the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard covers all of these requirements. Warning vests and other HVSA should be visible from at least 1,000 feet away and have break-away enclosures. Learn more about the classes of warning vests to select the right high-visibility personal protective equipment.

Safety Vest Classes

According to ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 there are three classes and three types of safety vests, each with different requirements for background and retroreflective material. The classes of vests are based on risk levels in different working environments.

Class 1

Class 1 vests are made with the minimum amount of high-visibility material. These warning vests are only suitable for environments in which struck-by hazards travel at 25 miles per hour or less. The first class of vests are ideal for grocery store clerks who retrieve shopping carts, parking service attendants or warehouse workers.

Class 2

Class 2 is the most common safety vest classification. These vests can increase visibility to a level that is sufficient for roadways with fast traffic during daylight hours. The second class of vests are intended for airport ground crews, crossing guards, law enforcement personnel directing traffic, surveyors and workers in parking facilities or at toll gates.

Class 3

The third class of safety vests provides the highest level of visibility. These garments have sleeves designed with retroreflective material and are suitable for night work in locations that have high-speed traffic. In order to meet OSHA standards, Class 3 vests should be visible from a distance of at least 1,280 feet.

Safety Vest Types

The 2015 version of ANSI/ISEA 107 introduced a new categorical scheme for warning vests. A revision in 2020 refined the applications for each type of vest. Learn more about the three types of vests and how these types correspond to vest classes.

Type O

Type O equipment consists of Class 1 safety vests designated for off-road usage. These vests must have at least 217 square inches of background material, 155 square inches of retroreflective material and a 1-inch minimum width for retroreflective materials.

Type R

Type R, Class 2 vests are designed to increase the visibility of workers on roadways. These vests must have at least 540 square inches in background material in the smallest size or 775 square inches of background material in larger sizes with 201 square inches of retroreflective material.

Type P

Type P vests for public safety professionals are available in Class 2 or Class 3 designs. Class 2, Type P vests must have 450 square inches of background material and 201 square inches of retroreflective material. Class 3, Type P vests should have at least 775 square inches of background material and 310 square inches of retroreflective materials.

When To Replace Safety Vests

The Federal Highway Administration estimates a six-month service life for HVSA worn on a daily basis. This PPE can last up to three years with occasional use. For safety, replace any damaged, faded or worn vests and other high-visibility garments.

Warning vests and safety garments should also have a good fit. Vests that are too large could pose a caught-in hazard, while vests that are too tight can be uncomfortable and discourage compliance with safety regulations.

Employers should factor in the classes and types of vests when ordering replacement PPE or setting employee purchase requirements. The ANSI/ISEA 107 standard also provides recommendations for including compliant lettering or logos on HVSA.

Post Signs for Safety Vests

Employers should refer to OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1926.651(d) or other relevant standards to determine whether workers need to wear safety vests and the appropriate class and type of safety vest for any application. Order OSHA notices and signs that remind workers to use high-visibility PPE from ComplianceSigns.

The post Why Are Safety Vests Required By OSHA? appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Best Parking Permit Practices for Management

To create a new parking policy for your company, start with careful evaluation. Consider the best way to improve safety and how your parking plan contributes to that. This should include whether there will be different types of permits for different people, who is in charge of issuing permits and how long passes are valid before they expire. Determine whether you will use numbered permits, which allows you to trace each one to a specific person.

Consider different types of business parking permits. Flexible plastic hang tags that dangle from the rear-view mirror are easy to use, easily transferrable and a good choice for short-term use. Window cling permits are applied to windows from the inside, making them a good long-term choice. Cling decals are less likely to be lost, shared or stolen.

You can also post custom signs that clearly mark your business parking areas. If possible, add your logo to both the signs and the parking decals to minimize confusion for your staff and visitors.

Communicating Parking Rules To Staff

When you create permits for a parking area, you can do several things to avoid hassle or problems. First, make sure the administrators of the parking system collect all pertinent information from anyone who gets a pass. This includes driver’s license numbers and vehicle plate numbers. There should also be clear directions for how workers can update their information.

Next, make specific rules for displaying permits. The parking permit should be clearly seen. Use training and visual aids to help employees place decals in the proper place. Place signage to coordinate business parking permits with the spots they allow access to. For instance, you can get parking signs in colors to match permits so everyone can quickly see where to go.

Parking enforcement also needs protocols to prevent people from sharing permits. There is a potential security risk whenever an authorized person or vehicle uses another person’s assigned permit. Ensure that all workers know not to give their decals to anyone else and create a policy for dealing with lost or stolen permits. It’s also good to limit access to the parking lot or garage so parking attendants or security personnel can check credentials at just a few designated points.

Train your staff so everyone knows the permitted parking locations and how you will check the passes. This will reduce confusion and frustration for everyone.

Simplify Operations

Parking is a logistical reality for any facility that gathers workers together in one place. To make sure everyone has proper access to parking, issuing decals for employees is a good idea. You can increase security while offering workers clear options for where to park.

To get the business parking permit decals and signs you need, check out the parking control sign and permit options at ComplianceSigns.com.

The post Do You Use Business Parking Permits? Here’s Everything You Need To Know appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Safety Kit Essentials:

Use a coffee can or similar container with a plastic lid to store the following items:

• Cell phone adapter to plug into lighter
• Large plastic garbage bag
• Pencil and paper
• Red bandanna or cloth
• Safety pins
• Small candles and matches
• Small, sharp knife and plastic spoons
• Whistle
• Plastic flashlight and spare batteries. Reverse batteries in the flashlight to avoid accidental switching and burnout. Warm batteries before using them.

Food Items for your Driving Kit:

Choose small packages of food that you can eat hot or cold.

• Canned soup, meat and poultry
• Chewing gum
• Food bars
• Miniature candy bars
• Raisins in small packets
• Semi-sweet chocolate in pieces for sharing
• Water
• Wrapped hard candies

Survival Kit Safety Items:

Store in the passenger compartment when severe winter weather threatens, in case the trunk becomes jammed or frozen shut.

• Basic tools
• Booster cables
• Road flares and reflectors
• Sand, cat litter or other grit in a plastic milk carton
• Shovel
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Snowmobile suit and heavy boots
• Tow cables or chain
• 30-foot rope or cord to use as homing line if you must exit the vehicle

Winter Driving Resources:

• Read more on winter driving from the Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety.
• Download a Winter Car Survival Fact Sheet (pdf).
• Check a Consumer Reports article on safe driving tips for Thanksgiving travel.
• If you will be traveling with young children, check this post on car seat safety.
• Browse First Aid signs and labels.

The post Make a Driving Survival Kit Before Traveling at Thanksgiving appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Parking permit hang tags are an essential parking lot management tool, allowing lot managers to identify authorized lot users, establish control over their facility and prevent unauthorized drivers from parking without permission. ComplianceSigns has developed specific tags for employee, visitor, temporary and contractor parking, in addition to standard parking permit tags.

The sequentially numbered permit tags hang from the rearview mirror of any vehicle, allowing parking lot attendants to view the tags through the windshield. They are also convenient and portable for lot users.

Serving All Parking Lot Needs

Although ComplianceSigns has sold reflective parking signs and MUTCD-compliant traffic signs for years, parking permit hang tags are a new offering for the sign and label manufacturer.

“Parking permit hang tags are a natural addition to our online store,” says Lain Livingston, Director of E-Commerce at ComplianceSigns. “Building and parking lot managers know us for top-quality parking signs and labels, and now we can also serve their need for parking tags to identify vehicles and keep lots organized.”

The new tags are designed to be durable, attractive and affordable. Tags are available in ten colors with several size and design options. They are made from pulp-free cardstock that is not affected by moisture or extreme temperatures, and are further protected by laminate coating on both sides to seal text and images.

“Our unique hang tag selectors make it easy to choose a tag size, design, color and numbering scheme, then place an order,” says Livingston. “In just four clicks, people can select from all the available options and be on their way. We believe these will be popular with apartments, homeowner associations, churches and schools, in addition to business operations.”

Where to Get Parking Permit Tags

Parking hang tags can be purchased online at ComplianceSigns.com/c/parking-permits-hang-tags. For more information or to browse all ComplianceSigns products, visit www.ComplianceSigns.com.

ComplianceSigns.com is among the nation’s leading suppliers of OSHA, NFPA and other safety and compliance signs and labels. The online store allows customers to easily search and shop more than 100,000 products. All signs and labels are manufactured in Florida and sold online.

ComplianceSigns clients span a wide range of industries, including military and government agencies, industrial and chemical manufacturers, retailers, schools, physician offices and health care facilities, professional buildings, churches and more.

The post ComplianceSigns Now Sells Parking Permit Hang Tags appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

With more than 40,000 people killed on our nation’s roadways in 2016, distracted driving is a public health issue that affects everyone. After a decade of record declines, traffic fatalities increased 14% from 2014-2016, the largest two-year increase in more than 50 years, per the National Safety Council (NSC).

Participate in Distracting Driving Awareness Month this May and call attention to the seriousness of distracted driving and educate your employees with eye-capturing visuals.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that deters your attention away from driving – including the most common distraction, talking or texting on your phone, to playing entertainment or navigation systems and even, eating, or drinking while driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), texting while driving tops the list of distracted driving offenses.

Think about this situation for a moment – on average, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. If you’re traveling at 55 mph, your vehicle will have traveled the entire length of a football field without any visual guidance. That’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed!

Many employers have realized the dangers associated with drivers using cell phones – also a form of multi-tasking – and are taking action by passing policies, displaying safety posters, and taking part in Distracted Driving Awareness Month to prevent texting and talking on cellphones while driving.

NSC has developed a Cell Phone Policy Kit to foster an effective distracted driving process for employees. The goal of the kit is to provide ready-made communication for a variety of people in the workplace.

Just one second of your attention is all it takes to change a life forever. Make the commitment to drive distraction-free today and take the pledge to make our roads a safer place for all.

The post The Fight to End Distracted Driving Starts with You appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

The fatal work injury rate was 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, the same as 2018. Non-fatal workplace injuries remained constant from the previous year. The non-fatal incidence rate for in 2019 was 2.8 cases per 100 FTE workers, which matched 2018 and 2017. A total of 28 states had more fatal injuries in 2019 than in 2018, while 21 states had fewer. Alabama and the District of Columbia had the same number as 2018. Following is a review of key data from the studies.

12 Key Findings from the 2019 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:

• The 5,333 fatal workplace injuries in 2019 represents the largest annual number since 2007.
• Nearly 1 out of every 5 fatally injured workers was employed as a driver/sales worker or truck driver. Events involving transportation incidents continued to account for the largest share of fatalities.
• Exposure to harmful substances or environments led to the deaths of 642 workers in 2019, the highest figure since the series began in 2011.
• Fatal falls, slips, and trips increased 11 percent in 2019 to 880.
• Fatalities among workers age 55 and over increased 8 percent from 1,863 in 2018 to 2,005 in 2019, which is the largest number ever recorded for this age group.
• Fatalities in the private construction industry increased 5 percent to 1,061 – the largest total since 2007.
• Driver/sales workers and truck drivers incurred 1,005 fatal occupational injuries, the highest since this series began in 2003.
• Grounds maintenance workers had 229 fatalities in 2019 – the largest number since the series began in 2003.
• Fatal occupational injuries among law enforcement workers fell 24 percent between 2018 and 2019 (from 127 to 97).
• Construction and extraction occupations increased by 6 percent in 2019 to 1,066 – the highest figure since 2007.
• Fishing and hunting workers had a fatal injury rate of 145.0 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTEs in 2019.
• Hispanic or Latino worker fatalities were up 13 percent to 1,088 in 2019 – a series high since 1992.

12 Key Points on Non-fatal Accidents in Private Industry in 2019:

• There were 888,220 nonfatal injuries and illnesses that caused workers to miss at least one day of work in 2019, essentially unchanged from 2018.
• The median number of days away from work in private industry in 2019 was 8 days, the same as 2018.
• The healthcare and social assistance industry accounted for 1 in 5 injury and illness cases reported among private industry workers in 2019, with 575,200. Manufacturing had 421,400 cases, and retail trade recorded 395,700 cases.
• Manufacturing accounted for 15.0 percent of all nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2019 and was the only sector where the TRC rate significantly changed from the previous year.
• Ten occupations accounted for 33.2 percent of DAFW cases in both 2018 and 2019. Of these, laborers and freight, stock, and material movers had the highest number of cases with 64,160; followed by heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with 47,990.
• Injuries and illnesses to manufacturing workers resulted in 32,470 DAFW cases of sprains, strains or tears (28.0 percent); 16,790 cases of soreness or pain (14.5 percent); and 15,380 cases involving cuts, lacerations or punctures (13.3 percent).
• Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had a median number of DAFW of 19 days, down from 23 days in 2018.
• Light truck drivers had a median of 20 days, an increase of 4 days from 2018.
• The median days for maintenance and repair workers, general; and laborers and freight, stock, and material movers-hand increased to 12 days in 2019 from 10 days in 2018.
• Private industry workers age 65 years or over had a median of 16 days away from work due to injuries and illnesses in 2019, compared to 8 days for all private industry workers.
• Workers with sprains, strains or tears resulting in days away from work visited medical treatment facilities at a rate of 6.5 cases per 10,000 FTE workers in 2019, down from 7.3 cases in 2018.
• The DAFW incidence rate for men decreased from 94.3 in 2018 to 91.7 cases in 2019, and the rate for women decreased from 83.4 in 2018 to 80.4 cases per 10,000 FTE workers in 2019.

Get More Information:

• Fatal occupational injuries news release.
• Non-fatal injuries and illness news release.
• Browse industrial and construction safety signs.
• Browse digital safety scoreboards.

The post Fatal Work Injuries Increased Again in 2019, Non-fatal Injuries Remained Steady appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Transportation incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal event at 2,080, accounting for 40 percent of all work-related fatalities. This is a slight numeric increase from the 2,077 incidents in 2017. Driver / sales workers and truck drivers had the most fatalities, and fatalities to non-Hispanic Black or African American workers increased 16 percent to the highest total since 1999. Fatal falls, slips and trips decreased 11 percent from 2017.

States with the highest fatal injury rates were: Wyoming (11.5), Alaska(9.9), North Dakota (9.6), West Virginia (7.9) and South Dakota (6.9).

More Details on 2018 Workplace Fatalities:

Type of Incident

Incidents involving contact with objects and equipment increased 13 percent (from 695 to 786), driven by a 39 percent increase in workers caught in running equipment or machinery and a 17 percent increase in workers struck by falling objects or equipment.

• Unintentional overdoses due to nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol while at work increased 12 percent from 272 to 305. This is the sixth consecutive annual increase.
• Violence and other injuries by persons or animals increased 3 percent in 2018, due to an 11 percent increase in work-related suicides from 275 to 304.
• Fatal falls, slips, and trips decreased 11 percent to 791, after reaching a high of 887 in 2017. This decline was due to a 14 percent drop in falls to a lower level (713 to 615), the lowest total since 2013.

Occupations

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers had the most fatalities of any broad occupation group at 966. Among all detailed occupations, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had the most fatalities at 831.

• Logging workers, fishers and related fishing workers, aircraft pilots and flight engineers, and roofers all had fatality rates more than 10 times the all-worker rate of 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 FTE workers.
• Police and sheriff’s patrol officers had 108 fatalities in 2018, up 14 percent from 2017.
• Fatal injuries to taxi drivers and chauffeurs declined by 24 percent to 47, the lowest total since 2003 when comparable data for the occupation were first available.

Worker Demographics

Fatalities to non-Hispanic Black or African American workers increased 16 percent to 615 in 2018, the highest total since 1999. Their fatal injury rate also increased from 3.2 per 100,000 FTE workers in 2017 to 3.6 in 2018.

• Hispanic or Latino workers experienced 961 fatalities in 2018, a 6 percent increase from 2017. Sixty-seven percent of fatally-injured Hispanic or Latino workers were born outside of the United States.
• Though the number of fatalities declined for workers age 65 years and over in 2018, their fatal work-injury rate is still more than double the all-worker rate.
• A total of 20 states and the District of Columbia had fewer fatal injuries in 2018 than 2017, while 28 states had more; Arkansas and Oklahoma were unchanged from 2017.

Resources:

• View more BLS 2018 fatality data here (pdf).
• Non-fatal workplace injuries remained steady in 2018.
• Review workplace fatality data from 2017.
• Browse truck and vehicle safety signs and labels.

The post 2018 Workplace Fatalities Increased Slightly – Transportation Incidents Remain Most Frequent appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Non-traffic vehicle crashes that occurred off public roads or highways, generally in parking lots or driveways, caused an estimated 95,000 injuries and 2,125 deaths in 2015, according to the April 2018 NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Report on non-traffic surveillance. Clearly, parking and backing is a key topic for employee safe driving programs.

Safe Parking and Backing Toolkit

The latest NETS toolkit offers templates and materials that enable employers to conduct a campaign with fact sheets, presentations and posters. Fact sheets have tips for safe parking, including backing in, not out, when possible so you’re facing out when it’s time to exit. Another sheet includes tips for preventing backover accidents, as well as explaining how to set mirrors to maximize the drivers’ field of vision.

Drive Safely Work Week (DSWW) has been an annual campaign sponsored by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) for many years.

Parking and Backing Resources:

• Check out Drive Safely Work Week materials.
• Review tips for backing up construction vehicles safely.
• Be sure your property has adequate parking lot signs to safely direct drivers.
• Visit the NHTSA Road Safety page.

The post Vehicle Parking and Backing Advice from NETS appeared first on SafeWork Insider.