Accidents can happen at any time and can be caused by poor concentration or simply negligence. An unfortunate mishap, particularly with property damage, serious injury, or even death, can occur in a workplace due to specific hazards inherent in this equipment or due to improper handling of the device. Any accident can significantly affect productivity and business profitability. Equipment as powerful as this must be handled correctly to have a productive and risk-free environment.
Safe practices
Basic knowledge of correct vacuum truck operations can reduce the cost of avoidable losses. It is also beneficial in reducing serious workplace injuries for efficient productivity and performance. Below are some of the safe practices operators should observe to increase workplace efficiency.
- Don’t work alone – It is sometimes said that an operator is safer when working alone than with another employee to assist in the process. This is only true when it comes to operators better equipped and more qualified in accident prevention. Such an argument has underlying flaws because most potential accidents are unexpected and also because the ability to plan ahead is not fully developed, especially when it comes to anticipating the causes of accidents. Consequently, working with a coworker can result in greater safety by eliminating hazards and helping each other if an accident occurs.
- Don’t mix material – Another important factor to consider when handling a vacuum truck is never to combine wet and dry substances. Putting two substances together can result in a chemical reaction inside the tank, which in turn puts the driver at risk of explosions due to increased pressure. It is essential to evaluate and understand the manufacturer’s guidelines, particularly on recommended materials that are acceptable to keep within a tank.
- Ground equipment – Vacuum trucks are a huge contributor to the transportation and recovery of hazardous materials. The versatility and efficiency of these vehicles can help carry out a wide range of services, from moving chemicals out of a production plant to removing waste deposits from septic tanks, as well as recovering materials in the place of the accidents. When transporting flammable and combustible products, operators must establish a grounding precaution, as the accumulation of electrostatic charges can put the driver, bystanders and equipment at risk of explosion through an electrostatic spark. To avoid this, the hose connections, as well as the tank, chassis, and lance must be grounded and precisely attached.
- T online – A vacuum truck has three different standard safety shots. These are installed primarily for emergency shutdown purposes. Although all three are essential, the most important is inline-T. This valve is installed and connected from the last section of the main hose to the working end. Essentially, the inline-T provides personnel with easy access to immediately shut down equipment in the event of a malfunction when away from the truck.
- Focus – Focus, attention and concentration are vital in the performance of these tasks and must be exercised in the workplace in order to perform any task better, faster and more efficiently. Always focus on the task with safety in mind.
Productivity improvement can be achieved successfully through safe work practices. In fact, safety and efficiency are difficult to separate. Safety must be addressed in the workplace by determining the causes of injuries and ensuring that correct equipment handling techniques are followed to prevent accidents. In addition, to increase business efficiency, a safety program should be developed to reinforce proper handling of these vehicles. This is a reliable and effective strategy and it is imperative to improve business productivity and profitability!
