Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1377370
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION MAY 26, 2021 Page 13 Don't Lift Trailers with the Jacks Jacks are designed for stabilizing a trailer, not for lifting it. On this topic Bill Gibson is adamant. He asserts that lifting a trailer with jacks is both unsafe and it causes operational issues, including that doors may not come open if the trailer is on a bind. He says, "If you're going to have to manipulate the trailer at site set up, you need to support it with the axles, if at all possible. [Put] boards or other materials underneath the axles, under the wheels and tires to make sure the trailer is supported in the center instead of trying to lift it from the ends." Watch Those Stairs! One of the most common injuries for staff members setting up trailers is harm to their hands from stair set ups. Depending on the brand of trailer, there may be more or fewer pinch points, but all stair assemblies have them. As workers are pulling out the stairs from where they've been stowed, flipping them into place, and locking them into position, there are typically numerous ways to pinch or break fingers. Drivers need to pay attention, not hurry, and wear gloves to protect their hands. PPE Is Not an Afterthought Delivering and setting up a trailer may seem a bit more glamorous than servicing portable units on a job site, but the risks to health and safety are the same. Your team should really be wearing all PSAI-recommended personal protective equipment when they deliver and set up a trailer. This includes the aforementioned gloves, boots with steel or composite toes, eye protection, and a hard hat outside the truck. We also recommend safety vests for visibility and headlamps if the site is not well lit. Slips, Trips, and Falls One of the more common phone calls the PSAI receives from attorneys representing end users of trailers concerns injuries that are sustained entering and exiting trailers. Anthony Heath said, "This is a big one in our world, not only from our employee standpoint, but from a customer standpoint. We unfortunately see a lot of instances where somebody has had too much to drink and slips and falls on the stairs." It's simple to ensure the reflective tape and any other non-skid surfacing on each step of your stairs is maintained. It is a lot less expensive than an injury or lawsuit. During the setup when you're leveling the trailer, make sure the stairs are secure and the rise of the bottom step to the ground is the same as the rise between all the other steps. Also be sure the handrails are secure and everything is functioning as it should before you leave the site. Tips for Recovering the Trailer Safely At the end of the rental, you are not home free. Be sure to prepare for safety on the return trip as well. Do another pre-trip inspection and make sure everything is secure. Just say 'no' to transporting the trailer with waste in the tanks. Sometimes portable sanitation companies haul their trailers full of waste. Tips on Maintaining Trailers—Part I: Safety Issues…continued from page 12 Continued on page 14