Working Around Dump Trucks and Haul Roads
29 CFR 1926.601 · 29 CFR 1926.602 · This talk in Spanish
Why it matters
A loaded dump truck weighs 25 tons and the driver cannot see a person standing behind the tailgate or beside the right front wheel. Most struck-by deaths on earthwork jobs involve trucks backing or turning where workers on foot did not expect them. Today we set the traffic rules between boots and trucks: where trucks run, where people walk, and who controls the backing.
Hazards
- ⚠ Backing trucks with workers in the blind zone behind the box
- ⚠ Right-side blind spot on turns catching workers and laborers
- ⚠ Raised beds contacting power lines or collapsing on people during maintenance
- ⚠ Haul road edges giving way and rolling trucks near excavations
- ⚠ Dust clouds hiding workers from drivers
- ⚠ Workers riding equipment or beds they should not be on
Controls and safe practices
- ✓ Separate people and trucks: marked walking routes, and stay off active haul roads.
- ✓ Backing only with a spotter using agreed signals, or into a controlled dump zone with no foot traffic.
- ✓ Make eye contact before approaching any truck. If you cannot see the mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
- ✓ Keep haul roads graded, watered for dust, and bermed at edges near excavations and drop-offs.
- ✓ Never walk or work under a raised bed; block it before maintenance.
- ✓ High-visibility vests for everyone on foot near equipment, every day.
- ✓ Drivers: lights on, horn at blind corners, windows clean, and obey the site speed limit.
Crew discussion questions
- Where do trucks run on this site, and where is the walking route?
- Who spots backing trucks at our dump zones?
- Where are the blind corners and choke points here?
- What is our site speed limit and does everyone drive it?
Applicable OSHA standards
29 CFR 1926.601, 29 CFR 1926.602
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