Accessing Vehicle for Repairs or Inspection

A previous blog focused on safety as it relates to getting in and out of equipment that is being operated, and reviewed the importance of using the “three points of contact” when entering and exiting the cab. Another area where cities experience slip/fall injuries is when equipment is being repaired or inspected.

You’ve probable done it yourself, climbed up on the dump box to see if the box is empty, or stood on a wheel to clean the windshield, both of these scenarios can and have led to slip/fall injuries. 

Whether it’s in the shop, or in the street, climbing on and around equipment can be dangerous. Fortunately, improvements have been made by manufactures, designing better steps and walkways on equipment, and by cities that utilize portable steps, wheel steps, built in steps or ladders to access equipment.        Joe Ingebrand

  

There’s an App for That!

Ever wonder if there was an easier way to find those pesky problem areas in your city?  There’s an app for that.  There are a number of apps designed to aid Public Works in tracking the areas that need repairs and/or attention. 

How does it work?

The most popular app is SeeClickFix.   The city would need to establish a portal with SeeClickFix, and then notify their residents of the availability.  The residents would have to download the app on their smart phone and report any issues to the Public Works Department.

What do the citizens report?

The citizens can report anything from downed trees or graffiti to potholes or sidewalk cracks via this app. 

Why do we need this?

With the diminishing resources we all deal with as a public entity, it is more important than ever to do more with less.  This creates more tasks for fewer people in less time, which then makes it more difficult for the Public Works Departments to identify all of the problem areas throughout the city.  The app can make the citizens their “eyes and ears”. 

Not a fan of the app?

There are a number of additional apps available that provide the same service as SeeClickFix.  Here is a short, but certainly not comprehensive list of the available apps:

Cartegraph  http://www.cartegraph.com/

CitySourced  http://www.citysourced.com/default.aspx

Connected Bits http://www.connectedbits.com/

By: Tara A. Bursey

City Employee Injured After Fall

Here is a headline no one wants to read....“A City of Watertown, SD, employee is in intensive care after falling off a piece of city equipment last week. The employee fell off a street sweeper on April 2, 2013 and fractured his skull. Initially, he was conscious and responsive, but due to the severe trauma, he was air-lifted to Avera Mckennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.”     (The Public Opinion .Com, Watertown, South Dakota)

No matter what type of equipment employees are operating, safety precautions need to be taken when it comes to climbing in and out of the equipment, or performing maintenance activities on the equipment.

Three-Point Contact Every Time

 

DO Keeps steps and standing surfaces free of snow, mud and debris. Wear shoes with good support and tread. Exit and enter facing the cab. Slow down and use extra caution in bad weather. Get a firm grip on rails or handles with your hands. Look for obstacles on the ground below before exiting.

DON’T Don't climb down with something in your free hand. Put it on the vehicle floor and reach up for it when you get down on the ground. Don't rush to climb out after a long run. Descend slowly, to avoid straining a muscle. Never jump!  You may land off balance, on an uneven surface and fall. Don't use tires or wheel hubs as a step surface. Don't use the doorframe or door edge as a handhold. Don't get complacent and become an injury statistic!

by Joe Ingebrand