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INTRODUCTION:
The Forest Resources Association's Western Technical Division Transportation
Committee initiated a survey of Western pulp and paper mills to determine
the range of truck safety requirements in use. In the summer of 1999,
the Committee developed the survey and mailed it to lead fiber supply
managers at 17 companies in the Northwest. Fourteen companies responded,
some submitting information on multiple facilities, for a total of
20 locations included in the survey. The results showed a wide range
of requirements, with few requirements in common among the mills.
GENERAL
FEATURES: The survey asked for information in four categories:
(I) Required Use of Personal Protective Equipment; (II) Required Procedures;
(III) Required Truck Features; and (IV) Other (either requirements
or items the company offers to truckers who enter the facility). Tabulated
results, along with respondents' comments, follow.
| I.
Personal Protective Equipment: |
Required |
Not
Required |
| Hard
Hat |
|
11 |
9 |
| Safety
Glasses |
|
10 |
10 |
| Hearing
Protection |
|
4 |
16 |
| Steel
Toe Shoes |
|
1 |
19 |
| Other: |
Reflective
Vests |
1 |
|
|
Escape
Respirator |
3 |
|
|
Boot
with heel and ankle support |
1 |
|
Respondents'
Comments:
- Steel-toed
shoes encouraged, not mandatory.
- Hearing protection
available, not required.
- Chemical truck
drivers required to have all chemical-related safety gear.
- Drivers expected
to follow their company's safety requirements, unless they leave
a designated area.
- Hard hat,
safety glasses, gas masks, and hearing protection will be required
next year for hog fuel drivers.
| II.
Required Procedures: |
Required |
Not
Required |
| First
Time Driver Orientation |
14 |
6 |
| Written
Dumping Procedure |
17 |
3 |
| Speed
Limit |
|
19 |
1 |
| Other: |
Designated
parking areas and map |
2 |
|
|
No
smoking |
2 |
|
|
No
riders |
2 |
|
|
Respondents'
Comments:
- Orientation
consists of video and walk-through.
- Compliance
card is issued that shows proof of orientation.
- First-time
drivers must be accompanied by an experienced driver on their
first trip through the mill.
- Drivers
are individually tested on their knowledge and compliance
with dumping procedure.
- Drivers
must be out of truck and away from dump while truck is unloaded.
- Safety
video covers all these aspects and must be viewed by drivers.
- 4 companies
require the trucking company, not the receiving facility,
to conduct the orientation.
|
|
Speed
limits vary
|
#
of facilities
|
|
3mph
|
3
|
|
5mph
|
3
|
|
10mph
|
6
|
|
12mph
|
1
|
|
15mph
|
3
|
|
20mph
|
1
|
|
Combination
20/10
|
2
|
|
| III.
Required Truck Features: |
Required |
Not
Required |
| Lights
on |
7 |
11 |
| Other: |
Have
lights and warning horn on chip dump itself when operating |
|
Highway
Legal |
IV.
Other
Items offered: Dust masks offered/provided (2 facilities)
Miscellaneous:
- Trucker appreciation
lunches recognize good drivers.
- Must have certificate
of insurance on file before coming on site.
- Trucking contractors
required to have a written safety plan.
CONCLUSION:
As a result of the survey, the WTD Transportation Committee recognized
that there were few common requirements among the various mills. Two
reasons noted for the differences include different union work rules
and varying woodyard layouts. Instead of searching for common truck
safety requirements among the mills at this time, the Committee agreed
to four further actions:
- Send survey
results to all participants and WTD committee members.
- Encourage each
company to post a large sign at its entry gate, detailing that facility's
truck safety requirements.
- Explore whether
FRA member trucking companies might develop a leading edge common
safety requirement package to serve as a model for all trucking
companies.
- Gather FRA
Safety Alerts on transportation-related accidents or close calls
and post or provide them at mill woodyards and at rail and barge
transportation companies.
Transportation
Committee
Western Technical Division
Reviewed By:
Michael Wetzel
Southeastern Technical Division Forester |
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