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Loss Lessons
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IN-CAB DISTRACTIONS
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PestSure Members,
Our greatest potential exposure to loss in pest control is
placing an employee in a company vehicle and sending them
out on the roadway. In a recent PestSure auto accident, a
pest control driver rear-ended a vehicle that was stopped
at an intersection at a red light. Our vehicle struck the
other vehicle in the back with enough force to push the stopped
vehicle into the intersection and into the path of oncoming
traffic where it was struck again in the side.
Our driver failed to identify stopped traffic and did not
have time to bring his vehicle to a stop before striking the
vehicle in front of him. The temptation for a pest control
technician to succumb to in-cab distractions while driving
is great. This driver was checking his paperwork and map for
his next stop. He looked away from traffic and also occupied
his mind with the map, thus placing himself in a position
where he was unaware of traffic flow changes. He was unable
to anticipate the change because he attempted to multi-task
while driving.
Lesson:
- Driving is task that warrants full attention. Do not
expect your drivers to conduct other tasks (phone calls,
routing, paperwork, or lunch) while driving.
- If your drivers are currently having rear-end collisions,
discuss the need for adequate following distance in traffic
(4 seconds), and teach them to visualize this space.
- Discuss alternative planning strategies with your drivers
to teach them to handle tasks such as lunch, phone calls,
and routing, during brief stops throughout the workday.
Teach pre-departure planning.
- Challenge your drivers to keep the task of driving
top of mind.
In this case, the technician never intended to cause an accident
that injured two other people and resulted in extensive property
damage. His momentary distraction became a life-changing event
for complete strangers.
Take time to discuss this accident and the hazard of in-cab
distractions with all of your drivers. Please share and discuss
this Loss Lesson with your entire team so they can apply the
knowledge in the field and we can all learn from this event.
Linda Midyett
Area Manager
Safety and Loss Prevention, PestSure
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc.
14241 Dallas Parkway, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75254
972.663.6199
800.326.6203 |
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