Safety Newsletter – June 2022
Do Not Twist When You Lift
When you twist your lower back, such as during a golf swing, bending to unload grocery bags, or moving an item from one location to another, you run the risk of overstretching or tearing any of the large muscles or supporting ligaments around your spine.
Avoiding Twisting Back Injuries
- Evaluate the lift before performing it. This includes:
- The horizontal distance
- The vertical distance through which the load is handled
- The amount of trunk twisting that might be needed
- The ability of your hands to grasp the load o The frequency in which the load will be handled
- Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways, especially while you are bending your back.
- Avoid repetitive or sustained twisting, stretching, or leaning to one side
Safe Turning/Twisting Tip
- To turn, move your feet instead of twisting your body at the waist.
- Keep your shoulders level and turn your hips and shoulders together.
- Take short steps around.
- Try pivoting on the heel closest to where you are headed.
- Step forward out of the turn.
- Keep your load close to you and do not twist and lift at the same time.
Road Signs
- RED & White Signs: Stop, yield, and prohibition and regulatory signs
- When stop and yield signs are ignored, the results can be deadly! It’s important not to miss signs about driving regulations because not only do they help you avoid breaking the law and getting a ticket but they keep you from potentially getting into an accident.
- Grade Signs
- These grade signs are important because they are valuable piece of information that will allow you to be able to go down the hill without using the brakes so you don’t experience brake fade.
- Curve Signs
- Recognize the curve sign, you need to slow down before you get to the curve and be in a gear that allows you to power through the curve, especially if you’re pulling a trailer.
- Height Signs
- You need to know the height of your vehicle and you need to pay attention to height signs. If the sign says 12 feet 6 inches you cannot go under the overhead obstruction with a big vehicle.
- Object Marker Signs
- You will notice these signs on the end of bridge abutments, concrete islands, and all kinds of places along the roadway. It is important that you pay attention to these signs and you give them a wide berth so you don’t run into them.
- Lane Designation Signs
- If there’s two turning lanes, regardless of where they go – right or left – you always, always need to be in the outside lane.
- Weigh Scale Signs
- If you’re driving a commercial vehicle you got to go into the weight scale (If it is open) because if you blow past the way scale, you might be subject to a fine by the DOT
- No Truck Routes
- NO truck route signs – they’re usually around the corner of the road that you’re not supposed to go on. You can avoid accidents and fines by paying attention to these signs