Shift Happens, Don't Let It Happen to You ; Flatbed Loading/Unloading and Cargo Securement Safety

Flatbed Cargo Operations are dangerous. Taking the proper safety precautions will eliminate serious injury. There is no excuse for an accident during loading/unloading and securement. This is one video in a series of Flatbed safety videos designed to prevent injury to drivers.

Safety Policy provided below.

An emphasis on Situational Awareness during Loading Operations and communication with Forklift/Equipment Operators will prevent accidents. It is important that owners, executives, and safety directors/managers make this a big deal. It would also be a good idea to share with dispatchers/driver managers.

Shippers are now hiring third parties to run the forklifts and unload trucks to shift the exposure. Therefore, nobody really knows who the forklift driver is and the training they have had. Obviously, the shippers know there is a problem if they are shifting the exposure. Drivers must know that going in.

Truck Drivers are responsible for the load (they are the “Captain of the ship”) and must never proceed if there is doubt as to the safety and/or proper securement of the load.

In addition to the above videos, we have an extensive Flatbed Trucking Playlist on our YouTube channel. All produced by the ATA Comp Fund with our members.

Flatbed Trucking Safety playlist:    • Flatbed Trucking Safety  

Individual Videos:
1. Situational Awareness: Loading & Unloading a Flatbed Trailer:    • Situational Awareness: Loading & Unlo...  
2. Down Pressure: Trucking Safety-Flatbed Securement:    • Down Pressure: Trucking Safety-Flatbe...  
3. Shift Happens: Don’t Let it Happen to You! :    • Shift Happens, Don't Let It Happen to...  
4. Safety Blitz: Tarping a Flatbed Load- Saban Impersonator:    • Safety Blitz -Tarping a Flatbed Load-...  
5. Flatbed Ladder Safety:    • Trucking Safety - Flatbed Ladder Safety  
6. Proper Technique for Throwing Straps:    • Proper Technique for Throwing Straps ...  
7. Ergo Bar Training:    • Trucking Safety - Ergo Bar Training  
8. Flatbed Deck Safety Training:    • Flatbed Deck Safety Training Video  
9. How to properly lift your flatbed tarp:    • How To Properly Lift Your Flatbed Tarp  
10. Flatbed Equipment Inspection:    • Flatbed Equipment Inspection  
11. Catwalk & Trailer Safety: Slips, Trips, & Falls:    • Catwalk & Trailer Safety: Slips, Trip...  
12. Tarp Safety- Folding Your Tarp-tips to make your tarp last longer and save your back:    • Tarp Safety - Folding Your Tarp- tips...  
13. Flatbed Driver Call in Procedure:    • Flatbed Driver Call in Procedure  
14. Proper Technique for Lowering and Raising your Landing Gear:    • Proper Technique Lowering & Raising Y...  


Safety Policy:
Purpose:
_________________ is committed to maintaining and promoting a safe, healthy, and injury free environment to all employees and contractors. This policy endorses efforts which ensure the quality of safety by emphasizing incident and accident prevention and the control of risks in the working environment through situational awareness. No task is so important and no service so urgent that it cannot be done safely.

Goal:
To reduce and eliminate injuries to drivers during the loading and unloading a flatbed truck. Lift trucks are often used to load and unload cargo. Lift trucks includes forklifts, side loaders, walkie stackers, rough terrain forklifts, or any other type of powered industrial trucks (cranes or lifting equipment).

Procedures:
The following are requirements of drivers while loading and unloading a flatbed truck.
• Communication is key. It is the driver’s responsibility to communicate with the lift truck operator your intentions and processes before the loading or unloading starts.
• A reflective vest is always required. Acceptable colors are yellow or orange. Drivers are required to put the vest on prior to exiting the tractor.
• If the shipping location has a designated area for drivers to stand during the loading and unloading process, the driver is required to follow the shipping location instructions.
• If the shipping location does not have a designated area to stand, the next safest place for drivers to wait is in the cab of the truck. However, if the driver is required to stand outside the truck or place dunnage, the driver should be as close to the cab of the truck as possible. Never be on the opposite side of the load from the lift truck. Always maintain line of site with the lift operator.
• If the lift truck operator moves to the opposite side of the trailer, the driver is required to move to the same side with the lift truck and maintain a line of sight.



ATA Comp Fund Website: https://atacompfund.org/

The ATA Workers’ Comp Fund is the proven choice in workers' compensation coverage for transportation, distribution, supply-chain logistics, and allied companies. Since 1993, The Fund has been providing its members with stable, low-cost workers’ compensation coverage, combined with an industry-leading Loss Control and Safety program. In addition, our expert Claim Management team delivers results that can have a positive impact on your company’s bottom line.