SAFETY DAWG Chris Harris
An Obligation to Train and Learn I had some incredible feedback on last month’s article regarding how truck drivers seemingly ignore pushrod travel, ABS lights, the ABS system and generally do an incompetent pre-trip. The feedback led to a discussion with one of the readers, and they pointed out how some companies are compliant but not safe.
What does that mean - compliant but not safe? The reader pointed out that many drivers when applying for a new position fill out a ‘mountain’ of paperwork. This paperwork may include dangerous goods training and other signed forms so that they can occupy their correct spot in the driver qualification file. Completing a document, signing, and dating it, is only compliance. No training has taken place. Do you know that training is required for all employees? And drivers, as much as you might hate another ‘New Hire Orientation’ program, at least this carrier (if done correctly) is abiding by the law. That is a good indication as to how they will treat you. 14 • OVER THE ROAD
Each Province or Territory has its own Health and Safety rules, and they generally mirror or mimic the Federal rules. So, in this way, it doesn’t matter whether you are Provincially regulated or Federally covered. The rules are the same, at least in principle. What are some of the training topics that are in the regulations? The main principle is that the employer alert you to ‘known hazards of the job.’ Do you interpret that to mean things like speed and following distance for a truck driver? I know that I do. And supervisors are required to be trained and know the hazards of the job. When was the last time you were trained to know about ‘what is sexual harassment?’ Unfortunately, not many trucking companies train their drivers on this topic. Another area that is supposed to be dealt with is ‘workplace violence.’ Many truck drivers sign a document saying that they have been trained on the ‘Anti-Workplace Violence Policy.’ In fact, they have only signed a paper JUNE 2022
