Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1377370
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION MAY 26, 2021 Page 12 Breakaway Systems Can't Help If You Don't Use Them Correctly The point of a breakaway system is to prevent a catastrophic accident. Bill Gibson says, "It seems like a very simple thing, but I'm not sure everybody takes the breakaway switch seriously. Don't kind of stick it wherever it may go. It has to be permanently attached to the truck or it's not going to work." According to Bill, all trailers have electric brakes which take power to operate. When the breakaway switch pulls loose, it engages the brakes of the trailer and keeps it from continuing down the road when it's not connected to the truck. If a driver is careless about how and where the breakaway switch is attached, it cannot function properly. In that instance, if the trailer becomes unhitched from the truck, the trailer will continue to roll unimpeded. Bill says, "If you're going 70 miles an hour, your [unhitched] trailer will continue to go forward at 70 miles an hour until it hits something and possibly kills someone. So it's extremely important to make sure that you have your breakaway cable properly attached to the truck." Ensure You Have the Correct Ball Size for Your Hitch Some companies use different ball sizes on different trucks. Not all of them will work safely with a portable restroom trailer. It is critical that you have the proper ball size for your hitch. Bill says, "We have customers who actually have us color code their hitches because they have different ball sizes inside their fleet … if [the ball] on a trailer hitch is too small, it can definitely become dislodged from the truck, causing a very serious safety situation." Take Time to Check Your Sight Lines Once they arrive at the customer site to start setting up, drivers should be checking their lines of sight and making sure they have the proper clearances before entering the customer location. For example, it is important to make sure the trailer is clear of a low hanging branch, a mailbox or whatever else could be obstructing their entry point into the site. Make sure the gate is wide enough to accommodate the truck and trailer, especially if you will be turning into it in such a way, or at such an angle, that you will need wider clearance than the width of the vehicles. Nobody wants huge scratches down the sides of their trailers or insurance claims for damaged gates. Are You on Solid Ground? Before setting up, it is essential to make sure the ground is solid and level. No one wants their trailer to sink to its axles if it rains or roll down a hill if the chocks come loose. Some customers have a tendency to think a trailer will fit anywhere. Even if it possibly could go in a certain location, drivers should not place a trailer anywhere that doesn't meet your company's and the manufacturer's safety criteria for preserving the equipment, servicing and maintaining the trailer on site, and allowing user access. Tips on Maintaining Trailers—Part I: Safety Issues…continued from page 2 Continued on page 13