Transportation Employee Safety Policy - General

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Commitment to Safety

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Commitment to Safety recognizes that our people drive the business. As our most critical resource, employees will be safeguarded through training, provision of appropriate work surroundings and procedures that foster protection of health and safety. All work conducted by employees will take into account the intent of this policy. No duty, no matter what its perceived result, will be deemed more important than employee health and safety.

We firmly committed to the safety of our employees. We are committed to providing a safe working environment for all employees and will do everything possible to prevent workplace accidents.

We value our employees not only as employees but also as human beings critical to the success of their families, and the local community. Employees are encouraged to report any unsafe work practices or safety hazards encountered on the job. All accidents and incidents, no matter how slight, are to be immediately reported to the supervisor on duty.

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A key factor in implementing this policy will be the strict compliance to all applicable federal, provincial, local and facility policies and procedures. Failure to comply with these policies may result in disciplinary actions. Respecting this, will make every reasonable effort to provide a safe and healthful workplace that is free from any recognized or known potential hazards. Additionally, subscribes to these principles:

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• All accidents are preventable through implementation of effective safety and health control policies and programs.

• Safety and health controls are a major part of our work every day.

• Accident prevention is good business. It minimizes human suffering, promotes better working conditions for everyone, holds in higher regard with patients and increases productivity.

• Management is responsible for providing the safest possible workplace for employees. Consequently, management of is committed to allocating and providing all of the resources needed to promote and effectively implement this safety policy.

• Employees are responsible for following safe work practices and facility rules and for preventing accidents and injuries. Management will establish lines of communication to solicit and receive comments, information, suggestions and assistance from employees where safety and health are concerned.

• Management and supervisors of will set a positive example with good attitudes and strong commitment to safety and health in the workplace. Toward this end, management must monitor facility health performance, safety, working environments and conditions to ensure that program objectives are achieved.

• Our safety program applies to all employees and persons affected or associated in any way by the scope of this facility.

 

Everyone’s goal must be to constantly improve safety awareness and to prevent accidents and injuries. Everyone at must be involved and committed to safety. This must be a team effort. Together, we can prevent accidents and injuries, keeping each other safe and healthy in the workplace.

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Employee Safety Responsibilities

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The primary responsibility of the employees of is to perform his or her duties in a safe manner in order to prevent injury to themselves and others. As a condition of employment, employees must become familiar with, observe and obey ’s rules and established policies for health, safety and the prevention of injuries while at work.

Additionally, employees must learn the approved safe practices and procedures that apply to their work. Before beginning special work or new assignments, an employee should review applicable and appropriate safety rules.

If an employee has any questions about how a task should be done safely, they are under instruction not to begin the task until they discuss the situation with his or her supervisor. Together, they will determine the safe way to do the job.

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If, after discussing a safety situation with his or her supervisor, an employee still has questions or concerns, the employee is required to contact the safety coordinator.

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NO EMPLOYEE IS EVER REQUIRED to perform work that he or she believes is unsafe or that likely to cause injury or a health risk to themselves or others.

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General Safety Rules:

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Conduct - Horseplay and practical jokes are prohibited. Employees are required to work in an injury-free manner displaying accepted levels of behavior. Conduct that places the employee or others at risk, or that threatens or intimidates others, is forbidden.

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Drugs and Alcohol - The use and/or possession of illegal drugs or alcohol on facility property or on company time are forbidden. - Reporting for work while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol is also forbidden and will lead to immediate termination.

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Safety on Client Property:

• Employees of are required to follow all client safety and security procedures while doing business on client property.

• If your client host does not advise you regarding safety hazards, consider the following:

  • Emergency exit location(s) keep your eyes on the path you are walking and avoid any tripping/slipping hazards; while on stairs, maintain three-point contact – hand on rail and feet on steps.

  • Wear shoes that support your feet and are slip-resistant.

  • Avoid clothing that is either constrictive or too loose; loose clothing can get caught in equipment.

 

These rules are established to help you stay safe and injury-free. Violation of the above rules, or conduct that does not meet minimum accepted work standards, may result in discipline, up to and including discharge. When dropping off or picking up goods at a location, employees are required to follow the above rules, as well as all client rules and procedures, and work in a manner that reflects positively on. Before operating any equipment not owned or normally operated by personnel, permission must be secured.

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Injury Reporting

All work-related injuries must be reported to your supervisor immediately.

After each medical appointment resulting from a work-related injury, you must contact your supervisor to discuss your progress.

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You must also give your supervisor any paperwork that you received at the appointment. Provides transitional return to work (light duty) jobs for persons injured at work. Transitional work is meant to allow the injured or ill employee to heal under a doctor’s care while remaining productive employees are required to return to work immediately upon release.

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Safety Orientation Training

Safety Orientation is committed to providing safety- and health-related orientation and training for all employees at all levels of the company will maintain and support a program to educate and familiarize employees with safety and health procedures, rules and safe work practices.

 

The training subjects and materials have been developed using industry best practices criteria and site-specific data.

The training may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Facility-specific accident and incident data

• Hazards associated with the work area

• Hazards associated with a specific job or task

• Operation of specific equipment

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Emergency procedures

• Employee accident-reporting requirements

• Return to work program

• Any required OH&S training not included or addressed above

 

Periodic Inspections

It is the policy of that workplaces are subject to periodic safety and health inspections to ensure implementation and execution of our policies and procedures as relates to employees, vendors and others. All employees are responsible for cooperating during these inspections, and managers and supervisors are responsible for initiating corrective actions to improve items discovered during the walk-through inspection.

 

Job-Specific Safety Precautions

Driver Safety

• Do not operate a vehicle if you are fatigued or ill.

• Do not operate a vehicle if you are taking medication whose container label indicates that the medication may cause drowsiness or other negative side effects that would impact the ability to drive a vehicle safely.

• Obey all RTO requirements, traffic laws and signs at all times.

• Do not exceed posted speed limits.

• Do not make sudden lane changes except in emergency situations.

• Do not follow other vehicles too closely.

• Give yourself additional distance from other vehicles when it is raining, when someone is following you too closely or when you are driving faster than 60 kilometers per hour.

• Do not drive the vehicle through, around or under any gate or barrier at a railway crossing while it is in motion to open or close.

• Do not drive under an overhang without ascertaining proper clearance.

• Do not jump from your vehicle; always maintain three points of contact.

• Avoid sitting on your wallet when driving, as this can eventually result in back pain.

• Do not park close to intersections or stop signs; your truck may block the view of oncoming traffic or pedestrians.

• When backing from sunlight into the shadow of a dock, stop for a few minutes to allow your eyes to adjust to the change in light; always back slowly.

• Do not unload your truck without first setting the hand brake and chocking the rear wheels.

• Never attempt to open rear or side doors of a trailer before first tapping the doors with tightly closed fist. A change from a hollow to a muffled sound could indicate that your load has shifted.

• Never stand directly in front of a swing door when opening; always stand to the side. Always lock doors firmly in place to prevent them from swinging.

• Always release load bars or other product restraining devices slowly.

• Place heavier loads on the floor of the vehicle and not on shelves.

• Do not try to stop falling products unless you can do so safely.

• Secure the hand cart inside or on vehicle before driving.

 

Fuelling

• Turn the vehicle off before refueling.

• Do not smoke while refueling a vehicle.

• If you spill fuel on your hands, wash with soap and water.

• Clean up small spills from around fuel tanks with paper towels or rags.

• If a large fuel spill occurs, do not walk through it; follow the company's reporting and cleanup procedures.

• Always stay near the truck when it is being refueled.

 

Avoid Becoming an Aggressive Driver

• Be patient and courteous.

• Allow extra time to get to your destination.

• When possible, change your schedule to avoid congestion.

• Give other drivers the benefit of the doubt - all drivers make mistakes.

• Avoid conflict, even if you believe you’re right.

 

Pre-Trip Inspection

Each Driver is responsible for the safe operation of his or her vehicle. Drivers must make a daily inspection of the following items:

• Steering

• Brakes

• Mirrors and lights

• Horn and reverse alarm

• Tires

• Windshield wipers

• Go through standard inspection checklist format.

 

Conclusion

Everyone at DRC must be involved and committed to safety. This must be a team effort. Together, we can prevent accidents and injuries and keep each other safe and healthy in the workplace.