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Transit System Safety Program Workshop. Ohio Department of Transportation August 14th, 2007 Presented by: Victoria Warner RLS & Associates, Inc. HISTORY.
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Transit System Safety Program Workshop Ohio Department of Transportation August 14th, 2007 Presented by: Victoria Warner RLS & Associates, Inc.
HISTORY In 1997, the Ohio Department of Transportation distributed a vehicle safety program to all transit providers throughout the State of Ohio in an effort to establish consistent and effective safety policies and procedures. In addition, a training was provided on this safety program to explain the different elements of the program and the importance of its implementation within transit programs.
SAFETY PLAN PURPOSE To communicate policies, procedures, and requirements to be followed by management, maintenance, and operational personnel in order to provide a safe environment for agency personnel and the general public.
PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES • Upper management commitment • To create a new plan or update an existing plan • Monitor • Ongoing evaluation of system’s safety objectives • Annual review of the safety plan to determine effectiveness
TO CREATE A NEW PLAN OR UPDATE AN EXISTING PLAN Locate plan and dust it off Review plan content Assess current program Prioritize need Define “reasonable” safety procedures pertinent to system Provide “adequate” driver training Give employees a vested interest
PROGRAM COMPONENTS • Safety inspection program to identify and correct all hazardous conditions and practices • All facilities • Vehicles • Work procedures • Investigation and review of all accidents/incidents to determine the source of negligence and to outline preventive measures
PROGRAM COMPONENTS (CONT’D) Formal and informal safety training sessions for all employees Provide protective equipment, guidelines for use, and monitor use
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES Successfully administer the plan Establish, monitor, and report on safety objectives Develop, communicate, and enforce reasonable safety procedures Provide initial and refresher training to all employees Determine preventable/non-preventable accidents/incidents
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES (CONT’D) Take disciplinary and corrective actions as necessary with employees involved in preventable accidents Set a good example
DRIVERS, MECHANICS, AND OTHER PERSONNEL Exercise maximum care and good judgment in preventing accidents Possess a valid driver’s license or commercial driver’s license as required by law at all times Maintain and have in possession a valid DOT medical examiner’s certificate, if applicable Immediately report all motor vehicle citations, convictions, suspension, or removal of driving privileges to management
DRIVERS, MECHANICS, AND OTHER PERSONNEL (CONT’D) Immediately report all accidents/incidents Immediately report all unsafe practices or vehicle conditions Actively participate in all safety trainings Become familiar with and operate within defined safety procedures Use/wear protective safety equipment at all times
DRIVERS, MECHANICS, AND OTHER PERSONNEL (CONT’D) Notify management when a physical or mental condition may impair ability to perform job safely Notify management when use of Rx/OTC medications may impair ability to perform job safely Accurately complete accident reports and cooperate with accident investigations Consent to fitness for duty evaluations including drug and alcohol tests required by agency or law
SAFETY COMMITTE Identify strategies to prevent losses to the system Determine cause and contributing factors for accidents/incidents Identify how accident/incident may have been prevented
SAFETY COMMITTEE (CONT’D) Assist in the development of strategies to prevent vehicle accidents Assist in efforts to communicate new and existing vehicle and operator safety requirements Identify staff who should attend training Conduct annual safety audit
SAFETY COMMITTEE (CONT’D) • A resource for enhancing and facilitating vehicle safety • Assist management in identifying current accident prevention and safety training needs • Scope should go beyond vehicle accidents • Provides true picture of system’s safety status
COMMITTEE MAKE-UP Management and front-line employees including drivers and mechanics Provides employees with vested interest
SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAM • Designed to boost employee morale and give employees positive reinforcement • Standards for incentives must be: • Attainable • Earned • Valued • Based on performance over reasonable time period • Presentation must emphasize importance • Does not have to be a monetary reward
RECRUITEMENT AND SELECTION • Define the position • Give a thorough description of the duties and responsibilities of the position • Clearly define the qualifications of the position • CDL/DOT physical • Drug testing • Physical requirements • Language skills • Manual dexterity • Motor Vehicle records
RECRUITEMENT AND SELECTION (CONT’D) • Criminal background checks • Other background checks • Desired knowledge, skill and abilities
RECRUITEMENT AND SELECTION (CONT’D) • Application must meet Federal and State equal employment opportunity laws • Structured interview process • Manager/Supervisor should be included in the hiring process • Careful consideration should be given more toward attitude and personality
DRIVER’S QUALIFICATIONS • Targeted recruitments • Knowledge, licensing, and physical requirements • Application • Interview • Physical Requirements • Mental and physical condition • Eyesight • Hearing • Substance abuse/alcohol misuse • Physical examination
DRIVER’S QUALIFICATIONS (CONT’D) • Knowledge, licensing, and physical requirements (cont’d) • Age • Ability to perform simple math • Knowledge of English • Operating skills/experience (5 years) • Driver’s licensing • Valid driver’s license or CDL • Original BMV report issued within 10 days and every six months thereafter
DRIVER’S QUALIFICATIONS (CONT’D) • Knowledge, licensing, and physical requirements (cont’d) • BMV report suggested criteria • No OMVI or similar • No reckless driving, railroad crossing violations, or leaving the scene of an accident violations • No more than 2 moving violations or accidents within the last three years
DRIVER’S QUALIFICATIONS (CONT’D) • Knowledge, licensing, and physical requirements (cont’d) • BMV report suggested criteria (cont’d) • No suspended or revoked license within past 10 years • No combination of violations that indicate a pattern of unsafe vehicle operation • Criminal records check • No felony conviction • No crimes of violence
DRIVER’S QUALIFICATIONS (CONT’D) • Knowledge, licensing, and physical requirements (cont’d) • Criminal records check (cont’d) • No drug use or sale • No physical abuse • No fraud or theft • No child endangerment • No pattern of unlawful behavior • Previous employment notification
DRIVER’S QUALIFICATIONS (CONT’D) • Reasonable knowledge of service area • Ability to read basic maps • Road test • Written driving skills test
WHY TRAIN? • Reduces your system’s risk of serious repercussions • Improves quality of service to passengers • Provides opportunity to: • Acknowledge safety-sensitive and customer service responsibilities • Review and discuss responsibilities • Answer questions and clarify misunderstandings • Assist employees in honing their safety skills • Allows employees to share their experience(s) • Provides management with opportunityto assess employee skills
TRAINING • Conducted on a continual basis to ensure knowledge • Initial and refresher • System procedures • Techniques
DEVELOPING A QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAM Evaluate needs of each position Outline job-specific training plans Assess availability and expertise of training staff Develop goals, objectives, and competency testing Identify needed resources Implement training Document Re-evaluate and revise
INITIAL TRAINING The following is based on ODOT requirements – other funding agencies might have more stringent requirements Policy and procedures manual Personnel policy manual Scheduling Radio/communication protocol Office/paperwork requirements
INITIAL TRAINING (CONT’D) • Drug and alcohol program (ODOT requires within 30 days of hire) • Bloodborne pathogens - OSHA 437-02-1910, 1030 • Policy • Training (ODOT requires within 6 months of hire) • Annually • Upon change and/or addition of new procedures or exposures • Knowledgeable trainer
INITIAL TRAINING (CONT’D) • Pre- and post-trip inspection • Vehicle familiarization • Basic operations and maneuvering • Defensive driving (ODOT requires within 6 months of hire) • Special driving conditions • Backing • Intersections • Lane changes and turning • Railroad crossings
INITIAL TRAINING (CONT’D) • Following distance • Bad weather • Boarding and alighting passengers • Passenger assistance (DRIVE) training (ODOT requires within 6 months of hire) • Lift operations • Ramps • Proper securement techniques • Sensitivity training
INITIAL TRAINING (CONT’D) • Federal requirements (ADA) • Emergency procedures • Contact information • Emergency evacuations • First aid/CPR (ODOT requires within 6 months of hire)
ON-GOING TRAINING • Annual – suggested • CPR • System safety/safe driving • Evacuation/emergency procedures • System security including NIMS • Agency policy and procedures • Any new rules and regulations • Drug and alcohol awareness
ON-GOING TRAINING (CONT’D) • Bi-annual – suggested • Defensive driving • Bloodborne pathogens • Security awareness • DRIVE/PASS program • Tri-annual – suggested • First aid • Diversity awareness • Sexual harassment • Drug and alcohol policy • Reasonable suspicion (supervisors)
TRAINING DOCUMENTATION Personnel file Work eligibility file Payroll Medical Training and credential files Drug and alcohol records Accident file
EVALUATION AND SUPERVISION • Ridechecks – ghost riders • Unannounced • Periodic • Documented • Formal annual evaluations • Employee commendations response • Safety-related complaint response • Fitness for duty • Health risks • Diabetes
EVALUATION AND SUPERVISION (CONT’D) Fatigue Rx/OTC medications Older drivers Wellness programs Periodic motor vehicle record checks Annual physical examination recommended Safety meetings Seatbelt usage
EVALUATION AND SUPERVISION (CONT’D) • Discipline/recognition • Violations resulting in termination • Violations subject to disciplinary action
PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS/INJURIES Disciplinary action Grievance procedure Employee responsibility for reporting
EMERGENCY DRIVING PROCEDURES • Driver preparation • Identify potential risks • Weather forecast • Road condition, construction zones, lane width • Traffic volume • Volume of passengers • Passenger characteristics and special needs • Accident causes • Mechanical defect – 3% • Condition of street or highway – 12% • Human failure or error – 85%
PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS Backing accidents Intersection accidents Pedestrian accidents Rear-end collisions Traffic lane encroachment accidents Accidents resulting from mechanical conditions Accidents with parked vehicles Collisions with stationary objects
PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS (CONT’D) Unattended vehicle accidents Adverse weather condition accidents Passenger activities
SITUATIONS REQUIRING DRIVER ADJUSTMENTS • Slippery road surfaces • Driving in very hot weather • Driving at night • Driving through water • Winter driving • Special techniques for driving on ice and snow • Glare • Traction • Braking • Hills
SITUATIONS REQUIRING DRIVER ADJUSTMENTS (CONT’D) • Winter driving (cont’d) • Special techniques for driving on ice and snow (cont’d) • Skids • Stuck • Snow and ice removal • Precautions • Tire inflation • Defensive driving • Gas tank at least half full
VEHICLE BREAKDOWNS AND UNAVOIDABLE STOPS Remove the vehicle from hazardous situations Assess the scene Secure vehicle Engage flashers/position reflectors Notify dispatcher of location and problem Keep passengers safe, evacuate if necessary Document
VEHICLE FIRE/EVACUATION Pull up to a safe location, stop, and shut off engine Contact dispatcher Open all exits Evacuate passengers (upwind of vehicle) Stay calm Use fire extinguisher appropriately
FIRE EXTINGUISHER USE • Use to put out small fires • First line of defense in evacuating passengers • Drivers should never attempt to extinguish a fire unless: • All passengers have been evacuated • The fire is small and contained within the ignition point • The driver can attack the fire with an exit to their back and upwind of the fire
HOLD UP/ROBBERY Keep calm Note description Notify dispatcher as soon as possible following theft Call police Document