Dump Truck Safety Tips
Safety comes first on construction and work sites, which is why you’ll want to be careful while using a dump truck. Following proper safety practices and regulations ensures safe workers and successful projects. The experts at RWC Group have put together a brief guide to get you started on dump truck safety. Read on for more information or head into one of our locations in Arizona, Alaska, California, and Washington. Our team will be happy to answer your questions and give you a complete tour of our inventory.
Regular Upkeep
The most important thing you can do to ensure the safe operation of your dump truck is to always perform daily service checks. Small issues that go unnoticed for any length of time can compound in terms of complexity and expense, causing your vehicle to suffer costly repairs. A skilled and knowledgeable operator can make a huge difference in your maintenance costs. Make sure that your fleet operators are always trained in the safe operation of your equipment and understand the capabilities and limitations of the dump truck that they’re operating.
Avoid Accidents
Dump trucks offer a unique hazard for workers in the sense that the elevated dump bed can create a dangerous crushing hazard. This danger can be avoided by investing in a bed brace bracket, which is designed specifically to endure the weight of the truck bed and protect workers who are performing maintenance underneath. If you encounter hard-to-reach components that are not accessible when the dump bed is elevated by the truck’s standard props, a brace bracket will give your service team the space they need to operate without the danger of the bed suddenly crashing down.
Rules of the Road
While the general road rules apply to driving a dump truck, you need to take some additional guidelines into consideration. For example, the first thing to remember is to go slow. Remember that all that extra weight affects your driving performance. Also, since braking takes a bit longer when driving a huge dump truck, you’ll need to increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Similarly, since slowing down takes longer, you should anticipate turns and changes in traffic patterns from far away, so you have time to take them at an appropriate speed.
Take into account your dump truck’s height. You might never pay attention to those clearance signs posted in front of overpasses, but when towing a dump truck, it’s better to be aware of the surroundings. Hitting a bridge or other low clearance area could be disastrous, so always stay alert.
Hopefully, by following these tips, you’ll be able to safely use your dump truck. If you’re ready to start looking at some quality dump trucks for sale, stop by RWC Group at one of our locations in Arizona, Alaska, California, and Washington, and we’ll help you find exactly what you need.