Safety Stuff
Safety, It doesn't happen by accident!
Here a few quick tips to help keep us all safe.
Watch your backing, follow the rules....back only when needed, back to drivers side, controlled speed, when in doubt get out, sound your horn, back first.
Pay attention to where you park
Be aware of parked cars as you operate near them
Watch your following distances
It is important that we all work safely while on the job. Seatbelts are to be worn whenever you are sitting in the drivers seat, no exceptions, no excuses! Use the grab rail entering and exiting the truck, place boxes on the floor near the shifter if you need to, don't get out with a package in your hands that force you to step out without holding on to the grab rail. Use "three points of contact".
Your bulk head door should only be open if you are in the back of the truck, never have it open while driving. Not only is that a security concern but it is also a safety issue, if you need to hit the brakes suddenly you could have packages flying into the cab.
Use your hazards and turn signals when needed. Signal all turns and lane changes. Use your hazards when parked, even in the retail, make it a habit every time you get out of the truck the hazards should be on.
Spend as little time in the rear of the truck as possible, if you are in the rear of the truck and get hit you will get hurt, there's no question about it. Get in, get the package(s), get out. Don't sheet in the rear of the truck, it's dangerous and also not the proper method.
Pre-trip your truck every morning, make sure that all lights, wipers, doors, etc. are working properly. If you find anything wrong, write it up, write clearly so that the mechanic can read it. If you find physical damage to the truck point it out to a boss BEFORE you leave. This will protect you in the event they come out on the road and question the damage. There won't be any question whether or not you were responsible for it. Check and sign the DVIR every morning for any work that may have been done to the car the night before.
You should also keep the rear of your truck as neat as possible. Pick up any loose papers and plastic straps. Keep the area where you will be walking as clear as possible to avoid a tripping hazzard.
If you have any safety concerns you can always grab me in the morning or call me. I can tell you that things do get done when you follow the proper channels. I recently pointed out a hazardous condition in the rear near bay 62 where we bring our high values in. The alley for the bulk cart goes right past that door and because of the lip in the doorway you need to pull your handtruck into the building, this has you backing yourself into the path of the bulk cart. Plant engineering has placed stop signs in the alley and installed a ramp so you can push your handtruck in. So the system does work if we utilize it.
Don't let production concerns make you become careless. Safety should always be the first thing in your mind, I want every one to go home to their family at the end of the day. Think about what you are doing and if you are doing it a safe as possible. If you follow the methods you have nothing to fear, your production will be what it will beWe need to stay focused while driving, distractions such as the cell phone, typing on the Diad are sure ways to have an accident. There is no stop or package worth getting into an accident over. We should anticipate what is going to happen, not react to it.
If you have an accident or strike an object (pole,fence,lamp post, etc) you MUST notify the office ASAP. This is not an option, it is your contractual obligation (article 18, sect.3 page 46). Even if you send a DIAD message, the office must be notified. Failure to report an accident is a dischargable offense, you will be discharged. I also need to notified right away as well.
Why pre-trip your vehicle?It is important that you do a pre-trip inspection of your truck each morning. There are several reasons for this, the most important is safety, I don't want someone going out on the road only to be flagged down at a red light by a motorist telling you that you have no brake lights. But besides that, you are required by D.O.T. to inspect your vehicle and it should be part of your morning routine. Don't worry about that "10 minutes a.m." crap they feed us at the pcm, do your job! If you find damage to your vehicle show it to a boss before you go out on the road. I don't want someone to be charged with an unreported accident when they return to the building in a truck that had existing damage.
It only takes 3-4 minutes to check the truck and fill out the DVIR so at 47 cents a minute why not do it?
Safety committee.
The new safety comittee chair for the center is now Joe Lisanti, with Julio Zambrano as assistant. As always, feel free to bring any safety concerns to either of them or to me. As shop steward, I feel it is one of my responsibilities to assure a safe workplace for every union member on the job.
Accidents and reports
Don't let this be you.
Here is a conversation I hate almost as much as I hate management.
you;
"hey boss I twisted my ankle on the route today"
boss;
"o.k., I know about it, why don't you go home and ice it tonight.Call me in the morning, if I can cover you I'll do it. Just go home and rest"
This is NOT how this is supposed to go, you need to call in an injury on the day it happens, period!!! Do not allow a supervisor or manager coerce you into not calling in an injury. If they try, call me and I'll come in off the road to settle it then and there. They even told one driver that if he called in an injury that I would be fired for directing the workforce, hah, what a joke. Isn't that my job as a steward, to tell you how to follow the contract and steer clear of trouble? Don't worry about me, if they haven't fired me after 18 years they aren't going to. They know we are right and that's the problem, they hate to be wrong. Just stand your ground and tell them you are not leaving until it is called in. You should also make sure that you do not punch out until you are done calling it in, this is part of Article 17 "all work spent in service of the company"
As a steward I can go to management and pretty much settle any labor dispute, greivance, etc., that's the easy part of my job. Telling your wife and kids that daddy won't be coming home tonight or can't work anymore to put food on the table, that's the hard part. I can't put you back together again....I'm not THAT good!!! Be safe out there!
