Improving Sweeper Safety to Bystanders
On average, one in 10 workers on construction sites is injured. With an industry workforce estimated at about 9.6 million workers, that means almost a million workers in the United States receive some type of injury each year. Because sweepers are a type of machine not universally found on construction sites, they pose a larger danger than other, more familiar, types of machinery such as dump trucks, loaders, backhoes, etc. Article contains ideas on how to equip your sweepers so as to reduce the likelihood of accidents on jobsites.
Read about it.
Extra Caution Needed While Sweeping Across Train Tracks
This article is a reminder about emphasizing safety when crossing railroad tracks with an operating sweeper.
This incident in Joplin, MO, in 2017 could easily have been fatal to the operator if he'd been just a little further onto the train tracks. He apparently didn't hear the bells at the train crossing due to sweeper noise.Take a look.
Fast Track to Safety: Elgin Sweepers' NASCAR Sweeping Program
Elgin Sweeper, as part of its Green Sweeper Initiative, has developed a specially-built Elgin Crosswind that will this year become the first-ever vehicle to be present at all 38 NASCAR Cup Races.
Jeff Miles is the branch manager for the Kansas City office of Key Equipment and Supply Company. Jeff has long been involved with NASCAR and cleaning the track and coming up with innovative solutions on how Elgin Sweeper, as part of its Green Sweeper Initiative, can do that job, better, faster and more effectively. Includes 42-minute audio podcast interview with Jeff Miles. Read the article and listen to the podcast.
Safety Needs to Stay at the Forefront
How about this for an astonishing – and sobering – statistic compiled by the Association of General Contractors: A whopping 45% of highway contractors had vehicles crash into their construction work zones in 2013.
We encourage you to check out the reminder article by our editor about steps you should take to make sure your company is doing all it can to maximize worker safety.. Read the article.
Safety Relies on Reading, Reviewing and Utilizing Safe Practices Every Time
Ongoing safety relies on involvement by everyone in your organization, from the top manager to the newest employee. The impetus for this article is a fatal accident that occurred in New Hampshire on July 5, 2011. It is dedicated to the memory of Patrick J. MacDonald, who was killed after getting trapped in an Elgin Pelican while performing maintenance on the machine. Mr. MacDonald apparently became somehow entangled in the Pelican's hopper while working on it.
Whatever job you or one of your employees is performing in or around a sweeper, the fact is that danger exists. That's why it is extremely important – no, make that mandatory – that anyone who is working on or around a particular sweeper has at the very least read the safety section of the operators manual and verifiably understood every part of it. Read the story.
|
Brigade Electronics' CEO Discusses New Safety Breakthroughs
Brigade Electronics has long been a pioneer in developing new and innovative safety methods for the commercial vehicle and plant safety sectors. The CEO of Brigade Electronics Inc., Corey Heniser, spoke with us about the issue of safety when it comes to vehicles like sweepers in a 23-minute audio podcast, which is linked in the accompanying article. Several of the latest innovations in safety products have a direct bearing on sweeper safety, especially Brigade's patented "Shhhh, white noise sound" backup alarm.
Check out the Brigade Electronics article and audio.
Guidelines for Dealing with Heatstress in the Workplace
When temperatures are high it's important that you provide extra care, planning and – heat safety training – for your employees. Take a look.
Distracted Drivers Create Significant Jump in Accidents and Injuries
There has been increased attention on the danger of distracted driving recently, specifically on the dangers of cell phone use and texting while driving. Other secondary task involvement includes eating, drinking, conversing with passengers, as well as interaction with in-vehicle technologies (e.g., navigation devices and GPS), as well as portable electronic devices.Read/Listen to the story.
Equipment Safety -- A Top Ten List
John Meola, noted safety expert, offers his 'top ten list' of ways to improve safety when operating heavy equipment like power sweepers.Read/Listen the story.
Safe Backing 101
Here's what you need your operators to know about backing up a sweeper. Read the story.
How to Create a 'Culture of Safety' in Your Organization
Axiom #1: The most important part of your Safety Program is the part that combines the employee and the job at hand... SAFELY.
Axiom #2: The more hazardous or complex the industry, the more advanced your program needs to be. (Hint: Power sweeping and related work activities are often both complex and hazardous!)
So says safety expert, John Meola, one of the top safety teachers and trainers in the United States. In this article with 'safety news you can use,' Meola offers his take on how to develop a 'culture of safety' in a sweeping-related organization. We encourage you to read the information and then implement his many safety ideas into your company. No matter what task you or an employee are involved with, remember that safety is job #1!
(Safely) Access the info.
Sweeper Operator Heroism an Example of When Safety Meetings Pay Off
The City of Kirkland, Washington, and the Kirkland Fire Department presented the Citizen Hero Award to Washington State Patrol Trooper Anna Gasser and Kris Hardie from Best Parking Lot Cleaning for their quick actions at an incident on the I-405 freeway in Kirkland.
The award is an example of what kind of outcome can occur when sweeper operators have correct safety training and company support. Includes a link to a 10-minute audio interview with the sweeper operator.
Access the info.
Why a Lot of Safety Programs Fail to Deliver –
And How to Make Sure YOURS WORKS!
John Meola has had a lot of years in the business of building safety programs. In this article Meola shares some of the lessons that have been learned through the years. These lessons, he says, have often been painful, not to mention costly.
"The truth is," says Meola, "there are a lot of moving parts to a well-designed safety program. Unquestionably, the components all need to mesh. Otherwise, you'll find yourself grinding the gears. In this article I offer 10 tips that are central to building a safety program that is both effective and cost-effective. Read and learn.
Workzone Safety Practices Every Organization Should Implement
Most would agree that nothing on a jobsite should receive a higher priority than safety. However, a lot of effort is required to keep the information and emphasis on this topic current and foremost on the minds of your employees.
The following is an overview on the most pressing issues and current safety best management practices. Read about what safety expert, John Meola, has to say on this topic; listen to the 34-minute audio he provided to WorldSweeper's editor and, most importantly, implement the best practice ideas Meola provides! Read/Listen to the story.
Protecting Your Crews in Traffic: Work Zone Safety Practices
Improve your agency's overall safety record, including motor vehicle safety and hazardous exposures, by adopting measures and techniques to better protect employees in the work zone. Read the story.
Crews on Federal Highways Need Safety Vests
Safety vests must be worn by workers located on major collectors and above starting November 24, 2008. Read the story.
More on Safety at WorldSweeper.com
John Meola also wrote a sweeper-related safety article that is in our Street Sweeping Operations section. Go take a look.
|
Thomas E. Boyce, Ph.D., offers advice based upon his many years of experience assisting companies in developing leaders and reducing injury rates – along with 120 years of behavioral science. These have taught him there is no need to "over justify" safety with promises of rewards and trinkets.