Safety Tips
It's important that individuals recognize the hazards of slippery surfaces. Here are helpful hints from winter-safety experts that will reduce the risk of falling when slippery conditions exist:
• Wear boots or overshoes with soles. Avoid walking in shoes that have smooth surfaces, which increase the risk of slipping.
• Walk consciously. Be alert to the possibility that you could quickly slip on an unseen patch of ice. Avoid the temptation to run to or from your truck to get in out of the cold.
• Walk cautiously. Your arms help keep you balanced, so keep hands out of pockets and avoid carrying heavy loads that may cause you to become off balance.
• Walk "small." Avoid an erect, marching posture. Look to see ahead of where you step. When you step on icy areas, take short, shuffling steps, curl your toes under and walk as flatfooted as possible.
• Remove snow immediately before it becomes packed or turns to ice.
Three-Point System
- When entering and exiting the cab, use the three-point system. Alternate placing two feet on the steps and one hand on the handhold or two hands on handholds and one foot on the step. When entering the cab, use your legs for power and not your arms.
- Use the same three-point system when climbing up or down between power unit and trailer to hook up brake and electrical lines.
- When exiting the cab, face the truck and step down gently and slowly to the ground. Grasp the wheel and back out of your cab. Reach for and grip the handhold and gently lower yourself down, using the three-point system.
- Watch out for slippery surfaces on or around your unit. Remember that steps, handholds, gratings, frame rails, tank tops and ground surfaces can be extra slippery when any amount of oil, moisture, snow or ice is present.
Falling Safely
Even when you practice safe walking habits, slipping on ice is sometimes unavoidable.
According to the experts," it takes less than two seconds from the moment you slip until you hit the ground." "That's precious little time to react. In that instant, the risk is an injury to your head, a wrist, hip or shoulder."
Professional fighters say, knowing how to fall will help you reduce the risk of injury. In the stunts they perform and the Karate courses they teach, they use what is referred to as a tuck-and-roll principle.
"It's important to tuck your body, lift your head and avoid trying to break the fall with a hand, which can cause a wrist injury. The idea is to make yourself as small as possible by rolling up into a ball." It is suggested you practice the techniques as follows:
• Sit on the floor with your legs out flat in front of you. To simulate a backwards fall, slowly begin to lie back toward the floor and quickly tuck your head forward, chin to chest. At the same time, lift your knees to your chest and extend your arms away from your body and "slap" the ground with your palms and forearms. This maneuver will help prevent your head, wrists and elbows from hitting the ground.
• Assume the original position. To practice a sideways fall - which usually causes a shoulder, hip, elbow or wrist injury - begin to roll to one side or the other. As you do so, lay out your arm parallel to your body so that your forearm, not your wrist or shoulder, is first to contact the floor. Also, lift your head toward your shoulder opposite the fall. Next, practice the procedure in the opposite direction.
• From a kneeling position, practice for a potential front fall. Begin to lean forward and as you fall, roll to one side, laying out your arm parallel to your body, again so the forearm and not your wrist makes contact with the floor. Lift your head to the opposite shoulder and continue to roll.
Following these guidelines may not qualify you to handle movie stunts, but they can help protect you from serious injury this winter.
