Working as a professional dump truck operator often comes with its own set of unique dangers—many have to do with the vehicle itself. While dump trucks are designed to be strong and durable, they can also be susceptible to accidents in the right conditions. As such, it’s your responsibility as one of these workers to do all you can to prevent these incidents from occurring. These are some common dump truck accidents and how to avoid them on the job.
Collisions
Collisions are the most frequent type of accident experienced by dump truck operators. Except, when they hit something, they do it with hundreds times more force than normal vehicles. This makes these occurrences much more dangerous and increases the amount of property damages done upon impact. As such, it’s crucial you practice safe driving methods such as keeping a reasonable distance from the car in front of you and regularly checking your mirrors.
Tip-Overs
Unfortunately, tip-overs are also a possibility. At first glance, it might seem as though it would take a lot to capsize a thousand-pound piece of equipment. However, should the dump truck’s bed be overloaded or experience any material sticking while in transit, all it takes is a sharp turn to throw the vehicle off balance. So, to prevent this, you must not only be well-informed on your truck’s capacity limits, but also know how to prevent certain substances, such as asphalt, from sticking to the inner lining.
Truck Bed Malfunctions
Another common dump truck accident to avoid is the malfunctioning of the truck bed’s lifting components. These parts are put under extreme amounts of stress during every delivery, and, over time, they begin to break down and leave the truck inoperable. If this should happen on the job, it can lead to a risky situation for all nearby. Therefore, it’s vital you never skip out on an opportunity to perform routine maintenance and ensure that everything stays in functioning form.
Misplaced Unloading
You’ll want to be extra careful with how you unload deliveries. Dump trucks must be backed into the position for the dumping process. This can hinder your overall visibility. Should you happen to do this on uneven ground, or stop in the wrong place, it can also cause the truck to tip as the lifting mechanism rises. Because of this, it’s recommended you always work with a partner to back yourself into the correct place and, before dumping, check whether the ground has a decline.
