Especially in the Northeastern states, winter driving can be treacherous (to say the least) for all drivers on the roads.  Interestingly enough, it has been my experience, in the transportation industry, that there are actually fewer accidents during the winter months than there are during the summer months.

"Why?" you may ask.  All year long, we as safety professionals, enforce safe driving practices with our employees.  Some organizations use the Smith System, while others employ their own techniques and procedures.  No matter what system is used, truck drivers presume that there will be less opportunities for "mistakes" when road conditions are optimal.  Because they spend their work week in a tractor, they fall into a comfort zone.  They start following a little closer and driving a little faster.  The result can be a lack of attention to developing situations around them.  This is where accidents occur.

During the snowy winter months, these truck drivers are on red alert.  This is the time when they fully employ safety methods.

Over the next few months, it is still necessary to stress the importance of creating space around your vehicle, maintaining a safe following distance, and always surveying the traffic flow ahead.

For more information or assistance with transportation safety training, please contact Equinox Consulting's transportation safety consultants at:  717-386-1242.

www.equinoxsafetyconsulting.com

Managers of smaller transportation companies are entrenched in the day to day activities of their organization.  This belief may allow for accurate accident reporting to fall by the wayside in lieu of more important tasks (i.e. moving freight or hiring drivers).  Unfortunately, without specific information, it is difficult to identify root causes and trends--trends which may ultimately lead to more serious events if appropriate training is not put in place and implemented.

An equally important factor in retaining accurate data, is the ability to set appropriate metrics and safety goals for your transportation organization.  How can you have a safety program in place with no goals, or even worse, approximate goals?  By tracking this information, actual costs can be easily monitored and actions can then be taken towards real improvement.

Understandably, if a system is not already in place, the time is seldom available to pull in historical information...let alone that which occurred in the current year.

In these cases, an experienced consultant may be appropriate.  They can guide you through setting up metrics based upon your data and even assist in compiling the data in a manageable format.

For more information, please contact Equinox Consulting at:  info@equinoxsafetyconsulting.com, or at www.equinoxsafetyconsulting.com.

Wouldn't it be simple if those of us in the trucking industry could simply tell our drivers and freight handlers "Don't get into an accident" and "Don't hurt yourself"?  Unfortunately, these concepts don't seem to have an impact on employees.

We as safety professionals, need to make it a point to introduce the employee to the potential impact their actions at work can have on the entire organization--and most importantly the personal lives of the employee as well as those "external" individuals who may be involved in a particular circumstance.  We tend to get caught up in teaching the rules and regulations as laid out by OSHA and the DOT.   These rules and regulations, however, rarely make the working situation of a driver safer nor is their purpose to prevent accidents or injuries.  Certainly, it is important to be compliant--but being OSHA or DOT compliant does not make you a safer organization!

At Equinox Consulting, we work with your organization to assist you in achiving a balance between educating employees on compliance and educating employees to work safely!  Call 717-386-1242 for more information.

(Contact phone number changed - 10/31/05)