Tip Sheet: Spotting Hazards

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington (State). Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  Using spotters can effectively protect pedestrians and property obstructed from view behind a truck that is backing up. But working closely to moving trucks puts spotters at high risk of getting struck and run over. Simple mistakes like a wrong hand signal or brief loss of visual contact can quickly end in serious injury or death. That's why proper safety training for spotters and drivers makes all the difference. Follow these tips to help keep spotters safe on the job. TIPS TO LIVE BY: Before backing up: Provide spotters with high-visibility clothing, especially during night operations. If possible, equip vehicles with rearview cameras or other back up safety detection systems. Identify and remove all hazards from backup zone if possible. Spotters should stand eight to ten feet on the driver's side of the truck and never between the vehicle and another fixed structure. Make sure that spotters and drivers pre-plan vehicle movements and agree on hand signals before backing up. If workers on a site communicate primarily by radio, the spotter should also have one. While backing up: Instruct spotters to always maintain visual contact with the driver while the vehicle is backing. Spotters should not walk backwards while giving hand signals. Instruct drivers to stop backing immediately if they lose sight of the spotter. Do not give spotters additional duties while they are spotting. Instruct spotters and drivers not to use personal cell phones, headphones, or other devices that could distract them. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Preventive Medicine Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Communication Systems Exposure Levels Injury Prevention Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment PPE Preventive Measures Risk Factors Safety Equipment Safety Measures Signaling Systems Truck Drivers Visual Aids Visual Fields

  More +
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Fact Sheet
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059972
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 90-144-2020, 2020 Jun; :1
• Contact Point Address:
  SHARP Program, TIRES Project, Department of Labor & Industries, PO Box 4330, Olympia, WA 98504
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Tip sheet: keeping safe from COVID-19
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fe5923c84f204f516642f419cd813f7291b5fcf48802067f4f3cba2c177a255ce69f936a83a63c5d17dfc61bceed935779386b9b98d289cc3c760e9cc804c8ad
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224021/cdc_224021_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 423.71 KB ]