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Terminal Inspection
Motor truck terminals present a diversity of exposures
that need to be evaluated for the protection of people
and property. This report will discuss exposures that
can be expected at a terminal, as well as measures to
protect the employees and property from losses.
Introduction
The typical motor truck terminal presents diverse
exposures that must be evaluated for the protection
of people and property. While these exposures are by
no means unique to the motor carrier industry, the major
emphasis when evaluating these accounts is generally
directed to the driver and vehicle aspects of safety.
Virtually all terminal operations will be subject
to the regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), and therefore will have records
of employee occupational injuries and illnesses. Examining
these records, Workers' Compensation records and previous
inspection reports will provide some indication of potential
problem areas and the extent of corrective actions taken
to mitigate previously identified problems.
Keep in mind that generally the time of greatest activity
at a truck terminal is at night or very early in the
morning. If you want to get the true picture, you may
have to try to schedule your visit accordingly.
General
You can evaluate some potential problems from your
car. Does the terminal have adequate access routes for
emergency equipment? Just how easy is it to access the
terminal? Consideration must be given to outsiders wandering
into the hazardous conditions that naturally exist when
there are vehicles moving about, fueling areas and various
types of storage. Are adequate security measures taken
without causing problems themselves?
General conditions that would pose accident or fire
hazards must be identified. Exits should be well marked,
accessible, and unlocked, and provide safe egress. Operation
of fire doors should be unobstructed. Fire drills should
be held periodically to assure that employees know what
actions must be taken. Fire extinguishers should be
readily accessible and maintained. First aid supplies
should be available.
An emergency response plan should be established and
specific duties assigned to personnel to protect people
and property. Information on who to contact (e.g. fire
and police departments, medical aid, and management
personnel) and their phone numbers should be readily
available. The emergency response plan should include
a provision to assure that equipment that might become
involved in a fire or impede emergency vehicles is quickly
moved to a safe location.
Motor carriers must have a hazard communications program
in force to comply with Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) requirements. All employees who
use or handle hazardous chemicals, including freight,
must be included in this program. This may encompass
drivers if they handle the freight, fuel the vehicle
or do maintenance work on the vehicle. Motor carrier
management must develop, implement and maintain a written
program, conduct an inventory of hazardous chemicals
used in the workplace, inform workers of the hazards
of these substances through labeling and Material Safety
Data Sheets (MSDS), and instruct employees on what measures
they can take to reduce their exposure, as well as how
to clean up a spill or leak. MSDS do not have to be
obtained for freight, unless requested by an employee.
Terminal Grounds
Immediate information can be obtained when entering
the terminal grounds by observing the general conditions.
Well lighted, trash-free yards with a smooth, well drained
surface and proper traffic and security controls are
highly desirable. Storage areas should be neat and vehicles
should be properly parked. Fuel pumps should be protected
from damage and fueling areas should be posted "No
Smoking", have a fire extinguisher readily accessible
and be free of any spills.
Note the condition of the dock area. Are ladders and
stairs in good repair? The dock should have wheel chocks
available and dock bumpers in good condition. Spotted
trailers should be chocked.
Office Facilities
The general conditions of the office area should be
orderly, with passageways unobstructed and supplies
and files properly stored. File cabinets should be attached
to each other to help prevent tipping when more than
one drawer is opened. File cabinet and desk drawers
should not be left open, to prevent injuries from walking
into or tripping over same. Trash receptacles should
be adequate and not overflowing with refuse. If smoking
is allowed, proper receptacles should be provided.
Assure that electric and communications wires are safely
routed. Is the electric service sufficient for the needs
of the office? Ask the receptionist for the telephone
number of the fire department. An emergency phone list
should be available. Fire extinguishers should be accessible,
properly mounted, appropriate for the type of exposure,
and fully charged.
Freight Dock
The freight dock represents the hub of activity at
a terminal. The general conditions should be orderly,
with aisles clearly designated and unobstructed, floors
clean and in good condition, and freight stacked safely.
Hazardous freight should be handled and stored appropriately.
Trash should be in proper receptacles and dunnage should
be kept neatly stored. "No Smoking" areas
should be posted as necessary and restrictions should
be enforced. Again, fire extinguishers should be accessible,
properly mounted, appropriate for the type of exposure,
and fully charged.
A review of injury records will indicate whether employees
are wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment
for their jobs, such as gloves. These records will also
help indicate whether the employees are using equipment
properly. Lighting should be adequate, including lights
to illuminate the inside of trailers. Dock plates should
be in good condition, properly designed with a means
of holding them in place when in use, and properly stored.
Freight handling equipment should be in good condition
and properly stored when not in use. Parked forklift
trucks should have the forks in the lowered position,
brakes set, engine off and wheels blocked if parked
on an incline. Maintenance and fueling of freight handling
equipment should be done away from the dock area.
Freight should be properly loaded on appropriate equipment.
Freight handlers should take proper precautions to assure
the safety of themselves and others. Vision should not
be impaired by the freight, and powered equipment should
be operated at a safe speed. Operators of powered equipment
should be trained in the proper inspection and use of
the equipment, and this training should be documented
in the employee's personnel file.
Maintenance Shop
When entering the maintenance shop, observe the general
conditions to assure that the area is free of spills
and grease accumulations and that trash is in the proper
receptacles. "No Smoking" areas should be
clearly designated and no indication of smoking in these
areas should be evident. Tools should be reasonably
clean and stored in an orderly manner.
Sufficient electrical power should be available to
eliminate the need to snake extension cords throughout
the shop. When necessary, electrically powered tools
should be properly grounded. The proper installation
of machine guards, and availability and use of personal
protective equipment should be reviewed. If air pressure
is used for cleaning, the pressure should be reduced
to not more than 30 psi. Proper ventilation should be
provided as necessary.
Flammable liquids and combustible materials should
be isolated from operations which produce heat, sparks
or flame, and fire extinguishers should be located in
proximity to these operations. Dip tanks should be closed
when not in use. Proper cleaning solvents (not gasoline)
should be used to clean parts. Fire extinguishers should
be checked to assure that they are of the proper type,
securely mounted, fully charged, and readily accessible.
Welding equipment should be well-maintained and hoses
and wires should be free of cuts, burns or serious abrasions.
Valves on cylinders should be shut off with their protective
caps on; cylinders should be stored upright in a secure
location; and oxygen cylinders should be stored at least
20 feet from fuel cylinders.
Vehicle movement in the shop must be carefully controlled
and open pits provided with a barrier to prevent someone
from accidentally falling into them. Mechanics should
support a vehicle with stands, not jacks. Hoists and
cranes should be well-maintained and rated for the load
they will carry.
Storage areas for parts and supplies should be adequate
to support the weight of this material. Hazardous materials
should be isolated and stored in safe areas. Areas for
specialized operations, such as paint spraying and battery
charging, must be appropriately designed and segregated
as necessary.
If truck tires are serviced at the facility, it must
be done in compliance with OSHA regulations. The employer
must provide a training program to train all employees
who service wheels in the hazards involved and the safety
procedures to be followed. Proper equipment, including
restraining devices and/or barriers for inflating tires,
a clip-on-chuck with a sufficient length of hose to
permit the employee to stand clear of the rim trajectory,
and an in-line valve with a pressure gauge or a presettable
regulator must be furnished by the employer.
COPYRIGHT ©2000, Insurance Services Office, Inc.
The information contained in this publication was
obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Insurance
Services Office, Inc., its companies and employees make
no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection
with either the information herein contained or the
safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot
be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is
contained herein or that abnormal or unusual circumstances
may not warrant or require further or additional procedure.
XL Environmental • Risk Control Division •
520 Eagleview Boulevard, PO Box 636, Exton, PA 19341
• Phone: 800-327-1414 • Fax: 610-458-7285
• xlenvironmental.com
XL Environmental is a division of XL Specialty Insurance
Company.
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