Vehicle Safety Newsletters

Newsletter Article Non-manufacturing “I didn’t see him." It’s a poor excuse for killing someone. Pedestrian deaths are surging, and we each need to do our part to stop it. According to the World Health Organization, 1.25 million people die each year in traffic accidents, and about half are people on foot or riding a bicycle. Millions more are injured. It happens everywhere. It could happen to you. Google the term “pedestrian killed today” and you will find millions of hits. One reads: “I didn’t see him…They found the victim lying in the roadway…not in the crosswalk.” Another recounted a story of a teenage girl “fatally struck by a vehicle…as she was participating in a scavenger hunt.” Every story ends the same. A father or mother, son or daughter will never return home. And the driver faces a life of regret, and possibly even time in jail. Roadways and sidewalks are getting more crowded, not just with pedestrians but also bicycles and motorbikes. Always pay attention to your surroundings – not your phone, the person next to you, or some far away place. Observe the 3-2-1 Commitment to Zero rule whether you are a driver, pedestrian or cyclist. Look right, then left, then right again. Stay clear of vehicles at all times. And make eye contact with somebody – either a driver or pedestrian – who might move into your path. Pedestrian and driver safety might seem obvious – so much so we can overlook it. And “I didn’t see them” is an empty excuse after an accident that causes injury or worse. It’s obvious.

Newsletter Article Manufacturing “I didn’t see him." It’s a poor excuse for injuring somebody… or worse Pedestrian safety is often considered a “no brainer.” We were taught some version of the 3-2-1 Commitment to Zero rule since were were kids, and everybody knows you are supposed to be very careful when driving a vehicle. Unfortunately, things get in the way of the obvious. At work it might be a text walker, a distracted driver, or a blind spot. At home, it could be a kid running into the street after a ball or a young driver running a stop sign. It all happens, and could happen to one of us. Our goal is no injuries and zero fatalities – a goal we can achieve if we take it one day and one task at a time and we make everybody’s safety personal. So as you navigate our manufacturing plant, as a pedestrian or a driver, follow ALL of these rules: Pedestrians… Use the 3-2-1 Commitment to Zero rule: Look in all directions before crossing an aisle or road – inside and outside of the building. Observe the two-foot rule around all mobile equipment; Make eye contact and wait for one wave from mobile equipment drivers to know that they see you. Don’t walk and text – or walk and phone. Use pedestrian walkways, or stay to one side of the equipment aisle. Vehicles often have the “right of way” in a manufacturing setting. Drivers… Only operate mobile equipment that you are trained to operate. Do not use electronic devices while driving. Come to a complete stop at stop signs. Obey all traffic rules and speed limits. Follow requirements for transporting, storage and stacking of materials. Always travel in the direction that allows the best visibility. At Home… Be alert on weekends and at night. This is when most pedestrian accidents happen. Be aware of left-hand turns, as drivers and pedestrians alike get blind-sided. Guard against silent hazards. People often don’t hear battery-powered vehicles coming.