Raising The Bar At The Worksite

Giving roadside safety the attention it deserves

There never seems to be any lack of danger on the road. No one knows this better than the people who work on the side of the road. Towing professionals, police, and road maintenance workers do this everyday and know all too well what they are up against.

Even with vests, flares, cones, and high tech flashing contraptions there are still fatalities. So while the prospect of no fatalities may not be likely for sometime, it is refreshing to read about efforts to raise the bar in providing even more fail safe systems to alert drivers to slow down  as they approach a worksite.

One effort comes from what I have seen in the news by the Texas Department of Transportation. They currently have multiple systems in place to decrease the number of roadside incidents that threaten workers. While there is nothing that new technologically, the combination of multiple systems shows initiative to protect the roadsite.

In Texas you have three things that help the process

1. Portable rumble strips
2. Multiple electronic road signs
3. Uniformed officers

I applaud the effort and hope more safety systems be put in place as standard operating procedure. I think roadside safety is a process, to be constantly evaluated, improved, and augmented as new ideas and technology come along.

 http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2013/5/3/Texasinitiatesuniqueworkzonewarningsystem.aspx

===================================================================

Towing Parts Specials

   T hook                        $5.95
Hook cluster with S,R,T. & Grab
                                    $12.99

 Snatch Block              $27.63

  Winch Cable             $81.29

  Tie Down Strap         $10.25

 Limelight towlight    $189.95

 Tow lights                  $64.92

  Lockout Kit               $49.95

Warn Winch                $999.95
Strap Ratchet               $12.00  

parts.ectts.com

Sometimes It Is Better For the Tower To Walk Away From A Tow

Walk Away…

I have another report about a Florida towman who shot and killed a man in an altercation involving the man’s car being hooked up for a tow. I do not know all the facts, but I know this.

Walk Away..

Write down the plate, photograph it if possible, and try to collect

Later. Killing a man and putting yourself at the mercy of the general public in a jury trial is not worth the risk of prison time..and there is an excellent chance the jury will be filled with people with a negative image of towmen.

Walk Away..There will be hundreds of tows and towing jobs where you never get a scratch

To read the full article CLICK HERE 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Need towing gloves or towing safety wear? CLICK HERE

-------------------------------------

 For Sale: Towing Stealth Unit

For more information Click here 

 

More laws going in place to help highway workers and towers in Virginia

New traffic safety laws start Thursday

Two new traffic safety laws will go into effect in Virginia on Thursday.

One will protect tow truck drivers and highway workers, and one will help ensure 16- and 17-year-old passengers buckle up.

During the 2010 legislative session, Virginia lawmakers voted to expand the Commonwealth’s Move Over law to include tow truck drivers and highway workers who are displaying amber-colored flashing lights, according to a AAA-Mid-Atlantic news release.....to read the full article click here 

Safety comes first. To the tower, doing the right things can be the difference between a great tow and disaster. This article gives tips to improve tower safety and is worth a look..


From the State Compensation Insurance Fund of California Website

Tow Truck Operations

Tow truck operators transport cars and trucks that are damaged, non-operational, or parked illegally, aid motorists, and keep streets and highways clear. Traffic never stops, so tow truck operators are called out at all times of day, year-round. The job involves personal safety, driving, heavy equipment, and traffic safety, so operators should learn safety basics for tow truck operations.

Mind your personal safety; ensure that someone is tracking or has a record of your planned route. Don’t enter a situation that looks or feels dangerous; be calm and diplomatic when dealing with customers. When exiting your truck, be aware of the traffic around you; look and think before you make a move. To avoid a fall, use the steps and handles getting in and out of the truck; never jump in or out of the cab or bed.

Maintain your fitness for the job which may require stretching, bending, lifting, and climbing. Use good body mechanics and lifting techniques to avoid back injuries. Don’t strain, twist, or over-reach, and avoid extreme or awkward positions as much as possible.

Drive defensively and stay alert. Avoid alcohol, drugs, and medications that cause drowsiness. Follow safe hours of service guidelines. Wear your seatbelt. Obey speed limits and road regulations. Don’t multi-task; keep your eyes and mind on the road. When towing, use your lights or a light bar to signal your intentions and show the rig length.

Know your equipment rating and capacity; overloading may cause an accident. Be aware of your truck height for maneuvering under overpasses and bridges. Inspect the truck before each use. Check the utility body and mounts and fix broken bolts, cracked welds, or stress fractures. Inspect the chains and hooks on the rig; make sure the security pins are not bent or falling out and the chain has no bent, stretched, or hammered links.

Inspect the winch and cable often, keep it clean and lubricated; repair or replace if necessary. Use hooks and clamps rated at the same capacity as the wire. Maintain 3 to 5 wraps on the winch drum and rewind it periodically to lay the cable flat and even. Watch the lines so that they don’t get tangled; placing continued pressure can shear the cable and send it flying at high speed.

When hooking up a towed vehicle, block and chock the wheels before disengaging the driveshaft or the brakes. Try not to work under a lifted truck; if you must do so, block and chock the wheels, front and back. Use lockout/tagout procedures on the wheel lift, boom and winches while working under a truck or between the truck and towed vehicle. If you have a remote to the lift, boom or winch, do not leave it in your pocket or on the ground where it could be accidentally activated; lockout and secure the remote inside your truck until you are ready to use it.

When working in the tow-away zone, stay in the safety zone.

tow safety, towsafe, towpart, towing, winch, winch cable, snatch block, hook