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Safety Alert : Rollovers 'It Can Happen to You'. Summary : Rollovers pose a very serious danger in many of our operations. Most rollovers can be prevented through a combination of : (a) defensive driving - adjusting speed to local conditions
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Safety Alert : Rollovers 'It Can Happen to You' Summary : Rollovers pose a very serious danger in many of our operations. Most rollovers can be prevented through a combination of :(a) defensive driving - adjusting speed to local conditions (b) adhering to maximum driver hours to avoid driver fatigue (c) full compliance with local traffic rules and 'no night driving'Roll-bars & seat-belts markedly reduce the risk of harm to people. Jeroen M. Peters &Sulaiman Al-Shaqsi (EPX-T, Feb. 2008)
Problem Statement : Rollovers • Rollovers can happen on straight roads (black top and graded) : • drivers may lose concentration during long journeys(driver fatigue !) and therefore veer to the side of the road • drivers may encounter unexpected obstacles (animals,stones, potholes, roads undergoing maintenance, etc.) • tyre blow out may occur (tyre specs. & quality, air pressure ?) • Rollovers can happen in bends : • driving at too high speed for local conditions, such as a sharp bend in the road • vehicle may lose traction due to soft surface or loose gravel on the road • Rollovers frequently show the “classic S-curve" : • driver loses concentration or encounters obstacle and thus veers to left or right • to correct, driver then over-steers either hard right or left • sometimes also wrong braking reaction : use of brakes whilst (over-)steering creates serious imbalance in vehicle • vehicle rolls over - occupants not wearing seat belts are ejected from the vehicle, often with fatal consequences ! tyre blow out on straight road too high speed in sharp bend 'classic S-curve'
4WD Vehicles : Threats, Controls & Defenses "Bigger is not Always Better" Threats : 1. Driver : > false sense of security > fatigue (long distances)> lack of concentration 2. Vehicle : > high centre of gravity > heavy > powerful (speeding ....) > worn tyres, low pressure 3. Roads & Environment > graded roads with potholes and soft berms > weather (rain, dust storms, dust clouds etc) Controls : 1. Driver : > defensive driving skills > attitude & behaviour > health & fitness > full compliance with rules 2. Vehicle : > specifications (roll bar etc) > maintenance (tyres, brakes etc) 3. Journey Management (JM) : > pre-trip meeting with driver > full vehicle check > no night driving > IVMS / VTS ('silent police') > km reduction options Defenses (if accident happens) : 1. People Protection : > seat belts > roll bar > head rests > baggage area separator 2. Fast Response requires : > first aiders + first aid kit > water > fire extinguisher > GSM / Thuraya (as per JM) > MER procedure to be known and immediately activated
High CoG Low CoG 4WD Vehicles :High Centre of Gravity (CoG)
Measures to Prevent Rollovers • Strictly apply the 'Golden Rules' : • Comply with driver rest hours, defensive driver training requirements, speed limits, vehicle standards etc. • Interveneif non-compliances or deficiencies are observed - any delay can have serious consequences • Respectour employees - we should do everything we can to reduce road safety risks to ALARP - we should understand local culture and communicate effectively • Key steps to reduce the number of rollovers : • Driver training, attitude and competencies : • driver is "captain of the ship" making the journey • full compliance with Journey Management plan; deviations to be reported immediately (no night driving !) • driver and passengers must fully comply with basic road rules at all times (speed, seat belts, etc.) • Driving style must be adjusted to vehicle characteristics and prevailing road/weather conditions : • Speed : maximum allowed speed may be too high for local situation - reduce to safe speed ! • Steering : no sudden changes of direction • Braking : no sudden braking, anticipate and brake earlier, keep more distance • Loads : • Keep heavy loads as low as possible : NOT on roof as this raises height of the Centre of Gravity (CoG) • Keep loads balanced to improve stability of the vehicle • Use IVMS / VTS data to coach and train drivers - also excellent tool to check compliance • Apply clear consequence management across all road transport operations : • stimulate defensive driving behaviour : reward good performance through group and/or individual prizes • after widely communicating the rules, apply penalties if drivers are non-compliant with basic rules
DRIVE TO SURVIVE :PREVENT ROLLOVERS Comply - Intervene - Respect