Have a 360 Degree Policy Before Your Employees Drive

A utility crew discovered a young boy in the wheel well of their truck while conducting a “Circle of Safety” walkaround. It is unthinkable what could have happened if they had gotten in the truck and drove off without doing the required walkaround inspection. By taking 30 seconds to walk around your vehicle looking for hidden and unseen hazards you can protect yourself, the municipality’s assets, and possibly another person’s life.

In the past 3 years Oklahoma municipalities have had 166 claims filed against them for damage to property or persons injured due to improper backing. It is the second most common claim filed against insured municipal vehicles. The sad fact is all of them could have been prevented if cities and towns had a policy and procedure to perform a 360-degree walkaround before getting in a vehicle and driving away. Just a few seconds of looking for potential hazards can prevent a backing accident or maybe save the life of a curious child.

The “Circle of Safety” procedure is a safe practice any driver can follow to ensure the area around their vehicle is safe before departing. Simply walk all the way around your vehicle and check the clearances to the side, in front, behind, and above. When backing into a parking space or work area, look for obstacles such as poles, other vehicles, drop-offs, and trash cans or buildings. Prior to departing, make sure to check if any pedestrians may have entered your path of travel. Whenever possible, back into a parking space or driveway to increase visibility when departing or pull through to a space that leaves your vehicle pointing out. If you must park the vehicle in a position that requires backing, leave the vehicle positioned to maximize visibility to the rear and critical areas adjacent to the vehicle. And finally, always check under your vehicle and around the wheel wells just in case a curious child has gotten stuck in there. This is no joke.  Each year in the United State, 2,400 children are backed over.

Understanding and Avoiding "Failure to Yield" Accidents

Right-of-way laws and regulations are in place to ensure cooperation among drivers and to assist in a smooth, safe flow of traffic on private and commercial roads. People who know, understand, and apply these rules in their driving tend to be more courteous and able to use common sense in dangerous traffic conditions.

Sadly, failing to yield to a person with the right-of-way is the number 1 cause of vehicular liability claims for Oklahoma municipalities insured by OMAG.

Defining Failure to Yield – When a driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian has the right-of-way, it simply means they have the right to proceed before another vehicle. We encounter situations every day in which we yield to vehicles with the right-of-way at four-way stops, intersections, stop signs, left turn lanes, crosswalks, yield signs, traffic circles, and more. Failure to yield is when a driver does not allow a vehicle with the right-of-way to proceed and this sometimes results in an accident.

If a driver fails to yield to you when you have the right-of-way, you should do everything in your power to avoid a collision. You can prevent failure to yield accidents and exercise proper caution by knowing the traffic laws, staying alert to your surroundings, and practicing courteous driving even when others make a mistake.

Ways to Prevent Failure-to-Yield Accidents – The best way to avoid causing or falling victim to a failure-to-yield accident is to know the laws and do your part to prevent them. You can stay out of harm’s way by:

• Slowing down – this gives you more time to react to someone failing to yield. Reduce your speed when approaching an intersection, crosswalk, or yield sign.

• Check the intersection before entering – even when you have the right-of-way, look before you enter because you can’t always trust other drivers to yield to you.

• Drive defensively – be aware of the cars in front of you, behind you, to the sides, and even the vehicles in the immediate vicinity on other roads. If you are keeping an eye on other drivers, you can spot the ones that aren’t driving safely and actively avoid them.

• Don’t run red or yellow lights – when approaching an intersection always slow down and cover your brake; avoid being tempted to accelerate and run through an intersection when the light turns yellow.

• Allow the intersection to clear before entering when the light turns green – many times vehicles will be turning left still or running through a yellow light, so don’t be tempted to jackrabbit out into the intersection as soon as you get a green light.

• Eliminate all distractions while driving – leave your cell phone alone, turn down the music, and stay focused on your driving responsibilities.

Driving is a very dangerous and complex activity. When you are behind the wheel you are responsible for not only your safety, but the safety of everybody else. Stay alert and focused on this very necessary but often taken for granted skill – it  could be what keeps you or someone else alive.

Eleven Steps to a Healthy Sanitary Sewer Collection System

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”- Benjamin Franklin. For far too long we in Oklahoma have been ignoring our sanitary sewer systems. Just like our personal health, if we do not practice a proactive approach to maintaining our aging systems, we will encounter costly consequences to our sewer systems sooner or later. If we take measures to maintain our sewers, we can minimize costly repairs and rehabilitations. It is time to stop putting “band aids” on our sewer lines and get them in shape. Here are 11 steps to help you get started on your sanitary sewer line maintenance program.

1. Use Global Information System (GIS) mapping to understand your system. An effective sewer maintenance program revolves around knowing the location of all infrastructure, pipe sizes, length and depth of lines, types of pipe and materials used in manholes. Accurate GIS mapping can help track completed rehabilitation and replacement work, but it begins with identifying exactly where manholes and lamp holes are located.

2. Inspect manholes on a schedule. Depending on the size of your system and staff availability, this may be once a year or every other year. Inspecting manholes will alert you to issues such as excessive debris and blockages, structural issues, and inflow and infiltration sources. Keep records using manhole inspection forms to track maintenance and rehabilitation needs.

3. Perform Draw Down Tests if you have lift stations. The test verifies proper pump performance and should be conducted annually at every lift station to identify issues with floats, isolate excessive grease, and confirm check valves are functional. You might want to check the Air Relief pits to make sure the ball valves are operating efficiently while you are doing the tests.

4. Verify your municipality has an ordinance requiring grease traps at businesses. Restaurants, gas stations, car washes, and other businesses that discharge fats, oils, and grease (FOG) should install a grease trap to avoid clogging the sewer system. Perform random inspections to ensure proper installation and maintenance of grease traps.

5. Do construction observations on sanitary sewer installations for new developments. Sanitary sewers that are not properly bedded are a major problem that leads to further problems for the municipality down the road. Offset frames and covers, chimney damage, and broken pipe are just a few problems resulting from improper new construction. Make sure your sewer mains are identified prior to trenching, drilling, or boring projects to avoid conflicts with your system. Before a developer passes new infrastructure on to the municipality, make sure to perform mandrel testing on sewer mains, and vacuum tests on manholes to confirm proper construction. Also conduct a warranty inspection prior to the warranty expiration to verify whether issues with materials or workmanship have developed during the warranty period.

6. Establish a routine cleaning and jetting program on sewer mains. This process will remove debris buildup and attached deposits to ensure your system is flowing properly and capacity is not being compromised. Jetting and cleaning at least 30% of your system annually so that all lines have been cleaned on a 3-year rotational basis will save a lot of headaches down the road.

7. Perform closed circuit television (CCTV) inspections. After cleaning and jetting, conduct CCTV inspections of the sewer mains to identify leaks or defects in the pipe system.

8. Conduct sump pump inspections. These residential inspections will identify connections to the sewer system. Have an ordinance prohibiting illicit sump pump connections.

9. Perform smoke testing. Smoke testing is a quick and efficient method for detecting storm water connections, roof drain connections, or defective sewer laterals, all of which are contributors to inflow & infiltration (I&I).

10. Conduct wet weather inspections. These can provide valuable information on how precipitation and groundwater conditions affect the flow in your system. Manholes may appear in good condition when it is dry, but they may exhibit leaking joints, missing mortar, and in-flow lid leaks in low-lying areas during wet-weather inspections.

11. Prepare an Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Manual for your sanitary sewer system. An O&M Manual will contain information on your maintenance schedules, identify how to report sanitary sewer overflows, have an emergency contact list, and spell out inspection procedures which can be helpful when training new sewer staff.  It provides invaluable references for both sewer maintenance workers and administrators when it comes time to budget for repairs, rehabs, and rebuilds.

It is time to stop wasting your time “putting out fires” on all the repairs required due to past negligence.  Maintaining a sewer system takes time and commitment, but just like eating right and exercising helps keep a heart healthy, performing sanitary sewer maintenance regularly will greatly improve the health of your sewer system. And we all know preventing a problem saves time and costs less than fixing it after an SSO event happens.

5 Defensive Driving Strategies

In the past decade road rage incidents have increased in the USA by 600%. People are getting downright nasty on America’s roadways. We all make mistakes while driving and we can’t control what other people do on the roadway. However, we can control what we do on the roadway. Let’s look at 5 Defensive Driving strategies to stay safe while driving, and perhaps keep from losing our cool and raging on somebody.

1. Space Management – Be aware of what’s going on all around you: What’s in front of you, behind you, to the sides of you, above you, and under you. Keep your eyes moving looking a block or two ahead of you and looking in your side and rearview mirrors. Notice low hanging branches or signs, bumps and potholes, and traffic coming up to intersections from other streets. See and make mental notes of potential hazards.

2. Situational Awareness – Identify potential hazards and formulate a plan to deal with them should a situation arise. Since you have managed the space around your vehicle you should be able to see potential hazards and can make decisions to keep you from becoming involved in an accident. Things like changing lanes, slowing down or turning down another street can help you avoid the hazard. Staying focused on your driving situation can save your life or the lives of others.

3. Mapping & Tracking at Intersections – Looking at other vehicles’ situations while sitting at or approaching an intersection can protect you and others from having to deal with a traffic accident in an intersection. Notice turning lanes, sidewalk crossings, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, people distracted by phones or passenger conversations. Give yourself extra space between you and the car in front of you by stopping where you can completely see their tires touching the pavement. Wait a few seconds when the light changes and give the opportunity for the intersection to clear before entering it. Proceed slowly with your eyes scanning for potential danger, like a child running out into the street or a car in the wrong lane deciding to make a left turn. Again, focus on your driving and making plans for the unexpected.

4. Parking – Where should you park and how do you park? Avoid parking close to stores and building entrances, as there is usually too much going on there with vehicles, pedestrians, loading and unloading, and cars vying for that closest parking spot. Instead, park away from entrances and walk in: it’s safer for you and your vehicle. Avoid parking next to someone that has parked crooked and made a tighter space for your vehicle. Use pull through parking if you can so that your first move out of the parking space when leaving is forward. If you can’t pull through into a space, consider taking the time to back into a space, again so your first movement when leaving is forward. Backing into a space when you are not in a hurry makes it much easier to leave when heading out on a call or just being in a hurry to get home.

5. Attitude – “Check yourself, before you wreck yourself,” is a good way to prepare yourself for the responsibility of driving before you take off. When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle you are in charge and totally responsible for your attitude, actions, and what is going on with your vehicle and in your vehicle. Get your emotions in control. Know your vehicle is in good working order, make sure you and your passengers are buckled up properly, and control unruly children or mischievous adults while your vehicle is stopped. That vehicle is a weapon that can kill you and/or others in just a moment of distraction. Take the job of driving seriously.

How Municipal Water Recreation Facilities Can Avoid Injuries and Liability

Water recreation facilities offer visitors the exciting action-packed experience of riding gravity-defying slides, swimming in wave pools, and running around silly fountains squirting and dumping water on visitors. Unfortunately, it’s not all fun and games – sometimes visitors get hurt. 

Of course, those who participate in any form of recreation that involves physical activity risk being injured. When people are injured at a water recreation facility (pool, splash pad, waterpark, municipal lake, etc.), they often file a liability claim or attempt to sue the facility on the grounds that the activity or premises was not reasonably safe. The law does not impose absolute liability on the operator of a water recreation facility or any recreational facility whenever a customer is injured. However, the operator IS required to take reasonable measures (emphasis on “reasonable”) to make an activity safe. The law does recognize that people who swim, jump, and climb risk sprains, broken bones, heart attacks, and even death, and that some of the risks cannot be eliminated by reasonable measures. 

So, what are the reasonable steps an operator of a water recreation facility can take to avoid or reduce the risk of customer injury? What are the practices that will appear careless or unreasonable in a courtroom? What actions will demonstrate to a jury that the operator cares about injury to its customers, has taken reasonable steps to avoid or minimize the risk of injury, and should not be blamed when a customer is injured? The following “best practices” can help water recreation operators avoid liability: 

1. Training, training, training. Nothing looks worse to a jury than a young, inexperienced, seasonally employed lifeguard or operator who has little to no training in preparing customers for a potentially hazardous activity, or recognizing problems, or taking action when problems arise. Even worse is someone who learned their job from watching another casually trained, inexperienced employee. All workers should be trained at the beginning of their employment in the safe operating procedures for all activities that can cause injury. They should specifically be trained regarding activities that could be deemed hazardous that they are assigned to supervise. They need to be trained on what to do if an injury occurs and how to get quick medical assistance. It might be a good idea to hire an outside company certified in the safe operation of water recreation facilities. It could avoid the argument the operator is not qualified (by credentials, training, or experience) to train its staff in safety procedures. 

1. Check and double check. It looks good when a supervisor, manager, or loss prevention person periodically monitors operations, both to ensure that staff are doing what they have been trained to do and are appropriately positioned at their post, and are not doing what they should not be doing, like using their phone or visiting with people when they are supposed to be observing the environment. While there is no hard and fast rule on how often a supervisor should do a walk-around, unscheduled visit several times a day/week, depending on the facility, is preferable. Periodic monitoring also reinforces training and informs management what messages are not getting through to staff and customers concerning safety. 

1. Keep detailed records. Witnesses often forget or have different recollections of how an accident happened, who said or did what, and other details. Having a supervisor or manager identify, interview, and record the names and experiences of eyewitnesses is critical to recreating the incident at a review or court case later. The same holds true with respect to the injured person: Where possible, it is important to get their account of what happened in case the story changes later. 

1. Incident reports are always evidence in a lawsuit. The objective of the report is not to have the person who creates it “play detective” and form opinions about who is at fault or how the incident could have been avoided, the goal is to record the identity and factual reports of eyewitnesses and any information provided by the injured person to the extent they are well enough to provide it. The incident report should be completed by a manager, supervisor, or loss control personnel, not an entry-level employee. 

1. Documenting the scene with photographs, taken as soon as possible after the incident are critical. Photographs serve as additional evidence. If the condition that is believed to have caused the accident could change (i.e. the water level could return to normal or a piece of equipment could be replaced), it should be photographed soon after the incident. Digital photos cost nothing, so take a lot of them. Surveillance video of an incident should also be preserved. 

1. Routine facility equipment inspections and work orders should be kept on file. If the injured person claims they were hurt because something malfunctioned, the operation or attraction (diving board, slide, etc.) should be checked as soon as possible after the incident by a qualified repair person. If the injured person or an employee reports something broke and caused the incident, that part, broken or not, must be taken out of service immediately and preserved for later inspection. Often, a maintenance person will throw away a broken part that may later be used in a litigated claim against the municipality. If a defendant disposes of evidence without realizing it may be needed in a court case, the plaintiff’s lawyer can suggest to the jury the defendant was trying to hide the truth. 

1. Use liability waivers. Although not enforceable in some states and enforceable in limited circumstances in others, liability waivers can be a useful tool, but they must be worded as clearly and concisely as possible. Many people do not know what a “release” or “waiver” is or have only a basic understanding of what they mean. Courts will determine whether the average person would have been able to understand that by signing the waiver they have given up the right to sue. If the average employee does not understand the language of the waiver, chances are the customer will not understand it either. Thus, a judge is likely to dismiss the waiver protection on those grounds. Use plain language and simple concepts in your waiver agreements.  

Accidents happen, and with them come liability claims and possible lawsuits. Most courts are fair to operators, and while they may feel sympathy for an injured person, they are less likely to decide a case against a recreational facility if they believe the facility took reasonable steps to avoid or reduce the risk of injury. Most people recognize that risk is a part of life. To that end, every water recreation facility must take reasonable steps to avoid customer injury and liability through staff training, monitoring, inspecting, and documentation.  

7 Signs of Fatigue and How it Affects the Workplace

Fatigue doesn’t just cause workers to feel more tired, it also increases the risk of accidents and injuries, reduces productivity, and causes absenteeism. Research has shown that spending 17 hours awake is equivalent to having a blood alcohol level of 0.05, and 24 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.10. You’d never let an employee operate heavy machinery with that much alcohol in their system, yet fatigued workers routinely engage in difficult or hazard-heavy work. 

In the context of safety and health, fatigue refers to mental or physical exhaustion that reduces a person’s capacity to perform work safely and effectively. The causes, however, aren’t always work related. Some of the most common reasons for fatigue include: 

• Prolonged or intense mental or physical activity 

• Sleep loss or disrupted sleep 

• Travel 

• Organizational change 

• Irregular work scheduling or excessively long shifts 

• Strenuous activity 

• Long commutes to and from work 

• Working in extremely hot or cold environments 

How to tell if a worker is fatigued 

Fatigued workers can put themselves and others at risk of injury. It is important for managers and supervisors to know the signs of fatigue and watch out for these symptoms in their employees. 

1. Tired, Weariness, or Sleepiness – Drooping heads, incessant yawning, and eyelids that seem to be closing are the most obvious indicators that a worker is fatigued and needs time to recover before costly errors or accidents happen. 

2. Irritability – Workers can be irritable for many reasons, including problems at home, financial stress, conflict with coworkers, etc. Another reason may be the lack of rest. It is a good idea to watch for patterns of irritability or a newly developed “bad attitude,” especially when combined with other signs on the list above. 

3. Reduced Alertness, Concentration, or Memory – Watch for workers who appear to have trouble focusing or who can’t recall seemingly simple things, like what they just said or did. Having difficulty solving problems can also be an indicator of fatigue. 

4. Lack of Motivation – Employees who appear to suddenly lack motivation to do their job, and do it well, may seem lazy but this is generally a sign of broader issues, including fatigue. 

5. Increased Mistakes or Lapses in Judgment – If a worker who is otherwise proven to be competent and good at their job starts making frequent errors or poor choices, it might be a sign of sleep deprivation or fatigue. 

6. Headaches – Headaches are a sign of fatigue, but they can also be a sign of dehydration. Before deciding it is fatigue, make sure all workers are adequately hydrated on the job, even when it is not hot outside. 

7. Increased Susceptibility to Illness – Workers who are suddenly taking more time off due to illness may be experiencing fatigue. Insufficient sleep wears the body down and affects a person’s ability to fight colds, flu, and other illnesses. With an increase in fatigue, it’s not uncommon to see a rise in absenteeism. 

Proactively Addressing Worker Fatigue 

Employees certainly play a role in preventing fatigue and some of the causes go beyond the workplace, but there are a number of things employers can do to reduce fatigue at work. An effective approach to fatigue risk management should involve some or all of the following: 

• Shift scheduling: consistent schedules, frequent breaks, two consecutive days off each week, and no more than four night shifts in a row 

• Balancing workloads and staffing 

• Developing a reporting system for fatigue related incidents 

• Workplace design: cool atmosphere, low humidity, natural light, minimal noise/vibrations 

• Employee training on fatigue and managing sleep disorders 

• Supervisor and management training on monitoring and identifying fatigue in workers 

• Offering an insurance plan that covers sleep disorders or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) so workers can get information and counselling to assist them in ways to recover from fatigue issues. 

• By identifying fatigue and taking a proactive approach to deal with it before it becomes an issue, you can ensure a safe, healthy, and productive work environment for your entire workforce. 

Disposable Wipes: Only Flush Poo, Pee & Paper (Toilet)

Although they are out of sight and out of mind except when they spring a leak or back up, water and sewer systems are more vital to civilized society than any other aspect of infrastructure. Deteriorating roads and bridges may stifle our economy and turn transportation headaches into nightmares, but if the water and sewer systems fail, then life as we know it will too. Without an ample supply of water, people don’t drink, toilets don’t get flushed, businesses don’t operate, and fires go unchecked. When sewage systems fail, municipalities can’t function, and epidemics break out.

Nationwide, it is estimated about 900 billion gallons of raw sewage flows into our waterways without being treated due to sewer line leaks and backups. It is not just a problem in the old cities on the East coast. It has been estimated that Oklahoma has a need for $82 billion in water and sewer infrastructure rehabilitation over the next 50 years. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) stated, “I remember when they used to consider us out in the newer states like Oklahoma as not having the infrastructure problems of the older states, but that’s not true anymore.” Many of the sewer systems of our Oklahoma cities and towns are 100+ years old.

With the toilet paper shortage of 2020, many people have turned to purchasing and using “flushable wipes”.  Flushable wipes, though advertised as safe for sewer and septic systems, are not. They are not designed to be biodegradable; please, don’t use these!

Items like flushable wipes, tampons, sanitary napkins, dental floss, diapers, cotton swabs, and bandages are not designed to be flushed down the toilet.  These items get caught up in fats, greases, oils, and debris in the sewer system and cause clogs. This can cause a backup in your personal sewer line or in the municipality’s sewer lines. The material can even make it all the way to the sewer treatment plant and destroy thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment.

What CAN be safely flushed into your town’s sewer lines? Only three things: Poo, Pee, and Toilet Paper. Protect your property, the property of your neighbors, and your municipality’s property. Only flush the 3 P’s (poo, pee, and paper).  If you use flushable wipes or other products not biodegradable put them in plastic bags and place them in your trash.

Say Goodbye to Computer Vision Syndrome

Prior to March of last year, I was aware that I spent way too much time staring at my computer screen(s). Since working remotely from home for most of 2020 and ALL of 2021 so far, I found myself experiencing tired, burning, itchy eyes at the end of most workdays. I finally broke down and made an appointment with my eye doctor. After visiting with my doctor and her staff, I came away with a better understanding of what I was experiencing and why.

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) may be spreading faster than any virus. Fortunately, proper eye care and simple adjustments are all that most adults need to reduce eye strain. Studies show that up to 90% of computer users experience at least one symptom of CVS. You’re at risk if you average 3 or more hours online each day. That probably describes most of the population, especially when they’re spending more time at home. The main symptoms include blurry or double vision, dryness, itching, redness, and sensitivity to light. CVS can also cause headaches and muscle soreness.

Preventing Computer Vision Syndrome

One study found that 71% of students sat too close to their monitors and 66% had their monitors set too high. Look at your environment and technology habits.

These tips can help prevent CVS:

1. Position your screen. Most experts recommend sitting about 24 inches away from your monitor and having the center of your screen about 4 to 5 inches below eye level. Adequate distance and looking down helps to prevent your eyes from drying out and working too hard.

2. Increase font size. Do you have trouble reading from that far away? Enlarge the type rather than squinting or stretching your neck.

3. Reduce glare. Online images are blurrier than print materials. Focusing will be easier when your screen is brighter than your surroundings. If necessary, pull the shades and switch to lower watt bulbs.

4. Shift your gaze. You may have heard of the 20-20-20 rule. Rest your eyes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

5. Take breaks. Go offline for at least 15 minutes after working for two hours straight. Exercise, eat a healthy snack or chat with someone face to face.

6. Blink more. Research shows that we blink slightly less online, and that adds up over time. Remind yourself to blink frequently to rehydrate your eyes. Using a humidifier and avoiding fans on your face will help too.

7. Quit smoking. Eye strain is one more reason to give up tobacco. Make a concrete plan and set a date to quit.

8. Limit screen time. Healthy habits will make your time online more pleasant, but only if you observe sensible boundaries. Block out technology free zones each day, like mealtimes and 2 hours before bed.

Treating Computer Vision Syndrome

Left untreated, even minor eye issues can interfere with your productivity and wellbeing. See your eye doctor at least once a year.

These strategies will help you deal constructively with CVS:

1. Update your prescription. Are you tilting your head or leaning toward your screen? You may need new glasses.

2. Use special lenses. Maybe you need a different set of glasses for working online. Progressive lenses can help if you often switch between printed material and your screen. Special coatings can increase contrast and cut down on glare.

3. Apply drops. If your eyes are extra dry, let your doctor know. They may recommend over the counter moisturizing drops or give you a prescription.

4. Train your brain. Brain and eye coordination is another issue that can lead to CVS. An ophthalmologist can perform special tests to make a diagnosis. If necessary, they’ll prescribe visual therapy and give you exercises you can do at home.

5. Keep a log. Tracking your symptoms is a proven way to increase the quality of care you receive. Make a list of concerns and questions you want to discuss with your doctor.

After my latest doctor appointment, I put some of my new knowledge to work. I adjusted my monitors to the suggested distance, and I have a pair of prescriptions glasses that I use only when I’m working in front of my computer.

Computer vision syndrome can make you uncomfortable and interfere with your daily activities. Find relief by establishing healthy computer habits and talking with your eye doctor. It also helps to set sensible limits on the time you spend online.

Bucket Truck Safety

Bucket Trucks are complex and require specialized training to operate in order to ensure operators and their support workers are safe. It is vitally important that workers know the risks they face when working on or around bucket trucks.

Few pieces of equipment can create more dangers to those working with and around them than bucket trucks. If your municipality owns one, or you rent one on occasion, you know users guides and manuals are readily available on the internet if one wasn’t provided. A quick internet search returns no affordable credible “canned” training programs available for bucket truck operators and support staff, however.

OSHA provides a basic outline for bucket truck safety, but it is short on specifics. Each work environment has its own issues regarding safe work practices and fall protection. It is mainly up to the municipal administration and supervisors to ensure workers are properly trained and able to demonstrate safety competence while working with or on bucket trucks.

Typical injuries when working from bucket trucks are strains, sprains, broken bones, lacerations, electrocutions, burns, and deaths from falls or being struck by objects. Damage and injuries occur when inspections are not performed according to manufacturer’s recommendations or when trucks are not properly positioned or secured for use. If operators don’t take the time to be fully aware of objects and hazards in, around, under, or above the bucket, accidents can happen. Unsecured tools and equipment can cause hazards, as can exceeding manufacturer’s recommended limitations.

Driving a bucket truck and positioning it at a worksite requires special skills and knowledge. It is not a job for a relatively new employee. Bucket trucks are heavy and cumbersome. They don’t stop on a dime or maneuver like a normal vehicle. A 3-ton lift places the center of gravity of the truck very high; observe tip-over signs on curves and exit ramps. Don’t get in a hurry; take it slow and easy. Bucket trucks get stuck easily off-road, especially in wet or slippery conditions. They have poor rear visibility, and should not be backed up unless necessary, and then only with the support of a spotter. Also, a backing alarm should be installed to inform others when backing up. Placing the truck in the ideal location takes knowledge of boom length, manufacturer’s limits, and surface conditions.

A practical bucket truck safety training should:

• Place emphasis on factors that may seem trivial, but are not

• Provide specific examples of dangers unique to the equipment

• Supply handouts, checklists, and references to use on the job

Fall protection:

While it is rare for an employee to fall out of a bucket, it is more common for one to be knocked out when another vehicle hits an aerial lift truck. OSHA regulations are not clear when it comes to bucket trucks. The rule of thumb is, once you get 6 feet off the ground you must be wearing personal fall protection. The question becomes, do you put someone in a body belt or a full body harness? If the person cannot fall more than 2 feet, a belt is acceptable. If they could fall more than 2 feet, use a full body harness and lanyard. That should be your requirement. Never belt off to an adjacent pole, structure, or other equipment, except in an emergency.

Pre-Use Safety Check:

• Keep maintenance records of equipment up to date

• Check tire pressure, wheels and tires

• Fuel, engine oil, and hydraulic fluid levels

• Look and listen for fluid and air leaks

• Look for loose or missing parts, rust, and deteriorating welds

• Test ground level controls first, then all bucket controls before going up

• Safety devices such as railings, bucket door catches, and redundant catches are in proper working order

• Personal protective equipment is available, in good condition, and used

• Special items specified by the manufacturer are adhered to

Check the Work Area:

• Never work on a slope that exceeds the limits specified by the manufacturer

• Check the area for soft spots, holes, drop-offs, bumps, and debris

• Check for overhead power lines, trees, building overhangs, etc.

• Before moving the truck be sure the boom is cradled and tied down, and that all other equipment is secured

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Hard hats for workers

• Safety glasses and face shields for workers

• Gloves appropriate for the job

• Personal fall arrest systems (harnesses, lanyards, etc.)

Operating a Bucket Truck:

• Set brakes, outriggers, and use wheel chokes, even if working on a level area

• If working in or near traffic, set up appropriate work zones with signs, channelizing devices, barricades and barrels

• Close and latch the bucket or platform door and attach safety chain

• Stand on the floor of the bucket or lift platform. Never climb on anything inside the bucket to extend your reach

• Do not climb on tool brackets in the bucket or lean over the railing

• Never exceed the manufacturer’s load limit capacity. This includes combined weight of workers, tools, and materials

• Establish and clearly mark a danger zone around the bucket truck

• Never move the truck with workers in an elevated platform

• Use particular care when positioning the basket between overhead hazards - the bucket moves it could pin or crush a worker

Emergency Escape:

• Know how to escape from a bucket if the lift fails when working alone. Know the different methods to use when stranded.

• Have auxiliary power or back up pump

• Have an emergency lowering valve or holding valve bleed

• Have an escape ladder or controlled descent rope

Supervisors must take the time to train and educate workers in the safe use of the bucket truck. It’s a good idea to go over policies and procedures annually.

OSHA Water Tower Safety Requirements

In October of 2016 the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration established new requirements for fall protection on fixed ladders. These requirements went into effect on November 19, 2018. Here are the revisions relating to all ladders including those installed on bolted and welded-steel ground storage tanks (like water towers). All new ladders installed after November 19, 2018 must include a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system. Existing ladders installed before November 19, 2018 must be equipped with one of the following items: ladder cage, ladder safety system, or personal fall arrest system. All new ladders installed before November 19, 2018 will not be able to use a ladder cage as the exclusive fall protection method. Ladder cages will still be able to be used provided they are combined with a primary fall protection method such as a ladder safety or fall arrest system and the cage does not interfere with the primary system. After November 19, 2036 all existing ladders not in compliance with the requirements for new ladders will need to be retrofitted to have either a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system.

A ladder safety system is designed to eliminate the possibility of workers falling from the ladder. Similarly, a fall arrest system stops the fall before the worker impacts the surface below.

2036, seems like a long way away, but it will be here before we know it. Start making plans to get your fixed ladder systems in compliance with these relatively new regulations.