The Basics of Spotter Safety

Transcription

1 The Basics of Spotter Safety Teacher s Edition Produced by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc. Transfer Station Safety Training Series

2 Instructions This teacher s edition is organized into a simple format. It includes a complete copy of the training booklets you ll give to your crew, along with some tips for helping your crew get the most out of this training program. Please take a few minutes to look over the notes and icons that are explained below: This icon indicates that some type of written input is required by your crew. This icon indicates a point where you may want to ask a question or look for comments from your crew. Text boxes contain tips or ideas on how to engage the crew or explain something. This icon indicates a point where you might want to use an example to show how this training applies to your transfer station.

3 Make sure that everyone has a booklet entitled: The Basics of Spotter Safety. The video script follows the booklet. Participants can follow along if they like. The Basics of Spotter Safety Blue Ridge Services, Inc Hites Cove Rd Mariposa, CA Feel free to pause the video anytime you sense there is an important issue to discuss Name Have everyone put their name on their booklet

4 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Printed in the United States of America World Rights Reserved This booklet or any portion thereof may not be copied or reproduced in any form, except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, nor distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base retrieval system, without the express, prior, written permission of the author. Copyright 2014 by Neal Bolton Copyrighted 2014 This book is intended to assist the reader in understanding how to work safely in a variety of situations that may occur at a transfer station. It is not intended to replace common sense or judgment. The author(s) and publisher(s) of this manual shall not be held responsible in any way for the safety of those using this material for training purposes. Safe operation of every transfer station is the responsibility of that facility s owner, manager, operators and laborers and other staff. Published by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc Hites Cove Rd Mariposa, CA 95338

5 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Spotter Safety Introduction There are many risks at transfer stations. The unloading area can be one of the most dangerous places if customers are left to fend for themselves without any direction or guidance. Without a functioning stoplight, a busy intersection becomes a chaotic traffic jam, filled with confused, angry drivers. The same thing happens at a transfer station s unloading area if there isn t some means of directing traffic. At many transfer stations that responsibility falls on the spotter. Feel free to pause the video anytime you sense there is an important issue to discuss The transfer station spotter or traffic director directs transfer station customers where and when to dump their load.

6 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude To the many customers that come into the transfer station on a given day, the spotter can literally be a lifesaver. Spotter s Job But the spotter s job isn t limited just to saving lives or even just to directing traffic. The spotter also keeps the unloading area safe by providing public relations, maintaining law and order, and enhancing the teamwork of the entire crew. Public Relations The spotter s job is often overlooked in terms of how it affects the rest of the operation. In fact, the spotter is the eyes, ears, and voice of the transfer station crew. Part of the spotter s job description includes the broad scope of public relations. He or she must answer questions like, Why is the tipping fee so high?" or "Why is the road so bumpy?" or Why can t I just throw out this paint thinner along with my other trash? A spotter who is courteous and knowledgeable helps instill respect and confidence in the customers.

7 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude On the other hand, a spotter with an I don t care attitude does a disservice to the entire transfer station staff. Law and Order The spotter has the heavy responsibility of keeping the unloading area safe even during the late morning rush common to most transfer stations. Most of the time, this is as easy as pointing or telling drivers where to unload. But there are times when a driver will question or challenge the authority of the spotter. In most cases, a spotter who appears confident in his authority has fewer problems than one who is overly passive. Along those lines, providing a sharp uniform is important. So is some type of communication like a walkie-talkie or cell phone. However, in cases of serious confrontation, it is always best for the spotter to back off rather than try to detain someone against their will. Remember, as a spotter, you don t have to fight for authority you are the authority. If a customer won t accept that, back off, record their license number and contact your supervisor immediately. Ask for examples of situations at your transfer station where the spotter sets the example for safety.

8 Talk about how the spotter s attitude can impact our customer s attitude. Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Other Spotter Responsibilities While it s true that the spotter s primary job is to direct traffic, he or she must also be able to work closely with the equipment operators who are pushing and loading trash. Whether it s with hand signals or a radio, the spotter must be able to clearly communicate with the operators. One of the spotter s most important jobs is to isolate portions of the unloading area so that the waste - especially bulky materials - can be pushed and loaded without endangering customers. This requires good coordination between spotter and operator. Teamwork In addition to public relations, the spotter must also understand how the transfer station operates especially in regard to pushing waste and loading trucks. He or she must be able to characterize each load in terms of type of waste, size of load, potential

9 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude to create litter, vehicle unloading time, and other pertinent information. How can the spotter stay alert? Don t sit down on the job Face traffic Take regular breaks Stay Alert Stay Alive The spotter must work in a hectic environment to provide public relations, maintain law and order, and work with the transfer station crew. The spotter must accomplish these things while at all times keeping everybody safe including himself. Obviously, safety is the number one concern for any spotter. To work safely, a spotter must practice good communication and always wear appropriate personal safety clothing. Communication For a spotter, good communication is an important part of working safely. In fact, you can t have one without the other. Good communication is often based on our words what we say. But it also includes eye contact, hand signals even our body language. Do our spotters have what they need for good communication?

10 Review the basic hand signals used by the spotter. Are they clear and easy to understand? Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Eye Contact Once the drivers have seen you, it is very important that you make eye contact. Eye contact represents more than seeing somebody s eyes. It s also saying, Hey, I m a person. I see you and you see me. Let s communicate. But eye contact has it limitations. It s an important start but it can only go so far. In most cases, you ll also want to tell the drivers to stop, wait, turn, or back into such & such a place to dump. Hand Signals Because there often isn t time to speak with every driver, most spotters use a few basic hand signals to direct traffic. The spotter should always stay in front of vehicles not behind. Let drivers back in with your guidance.

11 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Body Language The words we say often represent less than 10% of what we communicate. The other 90% is non-verbal. So what kind of body language should a spotter be transmitting? Authority, knowledge, confidence. How do you do it? By standing up straight, getting solid eye contact, wearing a uniform, being assertive. It s a lot easier for others to think you re in charge if you think you are. Be Visible These things are all important parts of good communication. But remember, communication starts with making yourself visible. If you want to communicate with someone, you ve first got to get his attention. How do you do that? By wearing the appropriate safety clothing. Personal Protective Equipment Regardless of the transfer station s policies, a spotter should always wear boots, trousers, a safety vest and hardhat. Depending on what sort of conditions the spotter is working in, additional safety equipment such as earplugs, goggles, gloves, or a dust mask might be advisable. Does our spotter have appropriate personal protection equipment? If the spotter is working during periods of low visibility, use a flashlight. Also consider

12 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude wearing a safety vest with reflective strips. You can even purchase a safety vest with battery-powered lights. If the spotter uses a baton or stick for pointing, it could be adapted to night use by simply attaching to it a bicyclist s flashing red taillight. Be creative. Remember the goal is to be seen.

13 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Are You Safety Savvy? Today we re going to take a test. It s an easy test. There s no penalty for wrong answers. If you make a mistake here, nobody gets hurt, nobody gets killed. But please take it seriously. Because hopefully, it can help prepare you for the real test you take everyday out on the landfill. Take a look at these photographs. Do you see anything that might pose some kind of safety risk? Remember, every situation has potential risk. Question 1 This spotter is wearing a safety vest and a hardhat. What other safety equipment might be advised? Encourage participation in the Safety Savvy test.

14 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Question 2 A spotter is riding on the running board of this truck as it backs into place. Any safety problems here? You may want to stop the video after each question to allow time for discussion. Question 3 Speeding and heavy traffic is a problem at this transfer station. Any ideas for keeping the spotter safe?

15 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Question 4 As a spotter, you see this view of a truck. Any problems here? Question 5 It s a hot summer day. This spotter decides to sit while directing traffic. Any problems here?

16 Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Summary Learn how to keep yourself and others safe Keep this safety booklet as a future reference. But remember, safety isn t a plan, it s an attitude. Use common sense and judgment and work safely. It s never too soon to start thinking about safety. Be sure to have all participants sign the attendance form. Store the completed forms in a secure file

17 Take time to review and discuss the answers to the Safety Savvy questions. Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Answers No. 1 o A dust mask o Goggles o Hearing protection o Anything else? No. 2 o Never ride on a moving vehicle o Anything else? No. 3 o Set up a concrete barricade o Install a stop sign o Anything else? No. 4 o Should be in front of the truck, not behind o Is in the truck s blind spot o Doesn t have eye contact o Anything else? No. 5 o Could not move out of the way quickly o Does not present image of authority o Anything else? Note: These are only some of the more obvious issues. You may find more.

18 Notes: Safety is not a plan it s an attitude Remind participants to write down any notes or comments in the back of their booklet.

19 Notes: Safety is not a plan it s an attitude

20 Encourage participants to refer back to this booklet. Explain that the booklet is theirs to keep for future reference Safety is not a plan it s an attitude This is Your Book. It is a valuable reference. Keep it handy and refer to it often Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

21 Take time to write down any important comments or ideas that came up during the class. You might want to include them the next time you teach this topic. Notes:

22 Notes:

23 To order more safety training supplies contact us at: ADDRESS: Blue Ridge Services, Inc Hites Cove Rd. Mariposa, CA PHONE: Office: Fax: WEBSITE:

24 What is Blue Ridge Services, Inc.? Blue Ridge Services, Inc. (BRS) is an engineering consulting company that was founded in 1988 to provide operational consulting services to waste facilities of all types. Since that time, we ve helped hundreds of facility owners and operators work safer, smarter and more profitably. Neal Bolton, founder and president of BRS, is a registered engineer, a licensed contractor and an experienced equipment operator. He is the author of The Handbook of Landfill Operations, and The Handbook of Landfill Safety, and has written over 100 magazine articles. You may already be familiar with Mr. Bolton if you ve read: MSW Management, World Waste, Waste Age, Solid Waste Technology or Solid Waste Online. Why not put his 34 years of experience to work for your waste facility? What can we do for you? Comprehensive Operational Review (CORE) We can perform a CORE for your landfill, MRF, recycling facility, green waste processing center, or transfer station. This is a comprehensive, technical review of your facility. It provides you with a practical evaluation of what s working and what s not. We evaluate your operation from top to bottom, looking at equipment, labor, airspace utilization, soil utilization, materials processing, environmental issues, surface water control, safety, etc. If it s part of your operation it s covered. Training BRS has conducted onsite training for scores of waste facilities. Choose from among our many standard training programs or let us customize one for your facility. BRS Webinar Join the scores of other waste professionals who have attended one of our online, interactive webinars. Check our website for dates and upcoming topics. Online Training We offer a variety of online training products, including safety, operations, and more. Visit our website for more information. Want more information? To find out more about the other training and consulting services we offer, please contact us at: Blue Ridge Services, Inc Hites Cove Rd. Mariposa, CA Office: Fax: safety@blueridgeservices.com Or visit our website at:

25 Weekly Tailgate Update No. 1 Transfer Station Series Personal Protective Equipment for Spotters One of the most important ways a spotter can stay safe is to wear the proper safety equipment. Are the spotters at our transfer station wearing the correct type of equipment? Here is a list of basic personal protective equipment: 1. Hard hat; 2. Boots; 3. Safety vest; 4. Goggles; 5. Earplugs and; 6. Gloves. Are our spotters using appropriate personal protective equipment? (Notes) Are there any areas or issues that require immediate attention in regard to safety? 2014 Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

26 Weekly Tailgate Update No. 1 Transfer Station Series I have participated in and understood this weekly tailgate update, Personal Protective Equipment. Presented by: Date: Attended by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

27 Weekly Tailgate Update No. 2 Transfer Station Series Communication for Spotters For a spotter, good communication is an important part of working safe. Are the spotters at our transfer station communicating well? The components of good communication are: 1. Eye contact; 2. Hand signals; 3. Authoritative and confident body language. How could we improve spotter communication at our transfer station? (Notes) Are there any areas or issues that require immediate attention in regard to safety? 2014 Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

28 Weekly Tailgate Update No. 2 Transfer Station Series I have participated in and understood this weekly tailgate update, Communication for Spotters. Presented by: Date: Attended by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

29 Weekly Tailgate Update No. 3 Transfer Station Series The Spotter s Many Jobs A transfer station spotter has many jobs. All of them must be done safely. What are some of the duties a spotter has? A spotter must: 1. Remain courteous and knowledgeable to customers. 2. Maintain law and order. 3. Work with the equipment operators when directing customers where to unload. 4. Maintain visual contact with all drivers. Are the spotters at our transfer station familiar with their job requirements? (Notes) Are there any areas or issues that require immediate attention in regard to safety? 2014 Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

30 Weekly Tailgate Update No. 3 Transfer Station Series I have participated in and understood this weekly tailgate update, The Spotter s Many Jobs. Presented by: Date: Attended by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

31 Safety Meeting Sign-off Sheet Page 1 of 2 Basics of Spotter Safety I have watched and understood the training video for the topic listed above and have received a copy of the corresponding training booklet for that topic. Presented by: Date: Attended by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

32 (Notes) Safety Meeting Sign-off Sheet Page 2 of 2 Basics of Spotter Safety Are there any areas or issues that require immediate attention in regard to safety? (List Here) 2014 Blue Ridge Services, Inc.