Happy New Year from the TIRES team!

If 20/20 means good vision, then why not envision 2020 as the year that sees your workplace safety program become better than ever? Ring it in by making a resolution to revitalize your safety program by setting your sights high. Reflect on past and present challenges to see where your safety program needs improvement, then set new goals that bring it to the next level.

That said, everyone knows how New Year’s resolutions go: we set lofty goals and soon lose interest in them, putting them aside for later, if ever. But being resolved to improve your safety program is different because your employees depend on it. It requires patience and commitment, not giving up on your vision when you don’t see fast results. Here are a few tips to help make your resolution stick:

These Trucks Carry Big Risks

A hand truck does things a semi-truck can’t do. And while it’s much smaller than a rig, the injury risks are still big. It is a basic piece of equipment, but using it wrongly can complicate your safety. Hand trucks require you to hold, steer, push, pull, load, and unload. If done improperly, these tasks can lead to crushing, abrasions, falls, strains, sprains, getting struck, and tip overs. Using a hand truck at a work site that is not familiar to you can also increase risk. Awareness of your surroundings, securing the load, and going easy with your hand truck will help prevent injury.

Slip on Ice Injures Driver’s Back, Ends Career

A 68-year-old truck driver sustained a permanently disabling lower-back injury when he slipped on ice during a routine post-trip vehicle inspection.

On the day of the incident, the driver had just returned to his company’s home terminal from a delivery to a customer in a nearby state.