Motor Vehicles
Employer Responsibilities
Prior to the start of a project, the employer and job-site coordinator (supervisor or foreman) should conduct a hazard assessment for potential worksite safety hazards.
Below are responsibilities of the employer and job-site coordinator when conducting a hazard assessment.
- Plan for work being conducted in close proximity to a public road or highway and for the safe handling of intermittent roadway traffic stoppages, such as a truck entering a roadway.
- Plan the entry and exit to and from the worksite to reduce exposure to traffic.
- Post construction areas with legible traffic signs at points of hazard.
- Erect barricades that conform to the MUTCD.
- Place necessary warning signs along the road.
- Conduct operations and safety orientations for all workers on site.
Safe Practices
Workers often deal with low lighting, low visibility, inclement weather, multiple vehicles, and numerous distractions at worksites. Moving construction vehicles and passing motor vehicle traffic can both cause problems for construction workers. Vehicle operation safety practices must be observed at construction sites to limit worker exposure to struck-by accidents such as struck-by swinging backhoes, struck-by falling/overturning vehicles, and struck-by trucks or cars.
Operator Safe Work Practices
- Wear seat belts when provided.
- Check vehicles before each shift to assure that all parts and accessories are in safe operating condition.
- Use traffic signs, barricades or flaggers when construction takes place near public roadways.
- Do not drive a vehicle in reverse gear with an obstructed rear view, unless it has an audible reverse alarm, or another worker signals that it is safe.
- Set parking brakes when vehicles and equipment are parked, and chock the wheels if they are on an incline.
- All vehicles must have adequate braking systems and other safety devices.
- Workers must be highly visible in all levels of light. Warning clothing, such as red or orange vests, are required, and if worn for night work, must be of reflective material.
Worker Safe Work Practices
- Wear high-visibility reflective clothing.
- Do not put yourself at risk of being struck by a vehicle and do not get caught in a situation where there's no escape route.
- Do not direct traffic unless you are the flagger.
- Flaggers must be visible by both motorists and equipment operators.
- Check that necessary warning signs are posted.
- Never cross the path of a backing vehicle.
- If equipment doesn't have a reverse signal alarm loud enough to be heard against the surrounding noise level, and the operator has an obstructed view to the rear, the employer will designate a worker to signal when it’s safe to back up.
- Follow "Exit" and "Entry" worksite traffic plan.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-3. Operators should not drive a vehicle in reverse gear with an obstructed rear view, unless they use _____.
You forgot to answer the question!