VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT BACKING SAFETY

Vehicle backing accidents happen too often but are completely preventable. Vehicle or equipment backing accidents can lead to costly damage, serious personal injury or fatality.

STEPS TO AVOID BACKING ACCIDENTS

  • Make sure your path is clear and that any person in the area is aware of your intention to back up before moving your vehicle or equipment.
  • Don’t assume everyone can hear the back-up alarm and will move clear of your path when you are backing up.
  • Park defensively. Choose parking places that allow you to exit easily, like pull-through spaces.
  • Position the vehicle or equipment to exit the parking area in a forward direction. Doing so gives the driver a full forward view of approaching pedestrian or vehicle traffic that they might not otherwise see when backing.
  • Know your vehicle’s blind spots. Mirrors provide limited visibility. A medium-sized truck can have blind spots that extend up to 16 feet in front and 160 feet behind the vehicle.
  • Physically turn your body and look around at your travel path and the surrounding area when backing.
  • Do a quick walk-around before getting into the vehicle or equipment. Inspect the area behind the vehicle or equipment looking for obstructions or space limitations.
  • Know the clearances around the equipment or vehicle. Check for obstructions, low-hanging wires, utility poles or other possible obstacles.
  • Use a spotter when backing to the vehicle’s blind side, which is the right side. The right side of a vehicle typically has larger blind spots.
  • Drivers sometimes must spot for themselves. You need to return to the vehicle and start backing within a few seconds after finishing the walk-around. This will allow very little time for people, cars or other obstacles to change the back-up conditions. Backing without a spotter should only take place after the driver has learned as much as possible about the area they are backing into.
  • As a pedestrian in a work zone, always assume the driver or operator does not see you. Make eye contact before proceeding around a vehicle or piece of equipment.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Members can download the audio version of this toolbox talk here.