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Loss Lessons
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DROPPING A WHEEL
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PestSure Members,
A recent PestSure auto loss resulted when a driver became
temporarily blinded by the sun and dropped a wheel off the
side of the road. The highway was under construction and the
shoulder repaving had not yet been completed. The driver attempted
to correct his vehicle back onto the roadway at his 60 mile
per hour speed. The maneuver resulted in loss of control of
the vehicle and eventual roll over.
Fortunately, the driver was wearing his seat belt and his
vehicle did not contact any other vehicles when he lost control
and flipped the truck. He sustained cuts to the head and was
taken to the hospital to receive treatment for these injuries.
The truck he was driving was a total loss. The approximate
cost of this accident was $25,000.
Lesson:
The choices we make in the interest of saving time often increase
our exposure to hazards and injury.
- The sunrise and sunset hours can be very dangerous
due to the limited visibility for either you or the drivers
who are in opposing traffic. Always be prepared with clean
sunglasses, a clean windshield, and a sun visor. Use your
headlights to assure that you can be seen by opposing
traffic driving into the sun.
- Should you drop a wheel off the shoulder of the
road, never try to correct back onto the road without
first slowing your vehicle to a near stop. Correction
at higher speeds will cause you to enter the opposing
lane of traffic or lose control and fishtail or flip the
vehicle.
- Never continue to drive in a blinded situation.
Safely pull your vehicle off the road at the earliest
possible point and wait just a few minutes for the sun
to further rise or set.
- If you are aware of a route that typically slows
traffic due to sunrise or sundown, try to avoid that roadway
at those times of day. Re-routing your travel can often
be the safest way to avoid any traffic trouble spots.
Pre-trip planning is vital for so many reasons. By simply
making a plan for the day that includes an assessment of your
route, your equipment, your product, and your vehicle condition,
you will save time reduce your exposure to hazards and be
more likely to make it safely through your day.
Please share this loss lesson with your team. Spend some time
talking about sun related blindness and what to do if you
drop a wheel off the shoulder of the road. In addition, review
with the technicians the need to make a good pre-trip plan
every day.
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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