Winter Driving Between Job Sites

Why it matters

The most dangerous hours of a construction day are often behind the windshield: dark mornings, black ice, loaded trucks, and a schedule pushing everyone to drive faster than the road allows. Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of work deaths across all industries. There is no OSHA standard for the drive, which means the discipline has to be ours. Today: the truck, the road, and the schedule.

Hazards

• ⚠ Black ice on bridges, ramps, and shaded curves
• ⚠ Loaded trucks and trailers stretching stopping distance
• ⚠ Dark starts and low sun angles hiding hazards
• ⚠ Unsecured tools and material becoming projectiles in a stop
• ⚠ Fatigued or rushing drivers making it up on the road
• ⚠ Phones taking eyes off the road at highway speed

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Pre-trip in winter: tires, wipers, washer fluid, lights, scraper, and a charged phone.
• ✓ Clear ALL glass and lights of ice and snow before rolling, plus the roof so it does not sheet onto the windshield.
• ✓ Slow down and triple following distance on cold mornings; assume bridges are ice.
• ✓ Secure the load: tools boxed or strapped, trailers hitched with chains crossed and lights checked.
• ✓ Leave earlier instead of driving faster; the schedule never pays for the crash.
• ✓ Phone rule in company vehicles: park to talk or text. No exceptions on the clock.
• ✓ Report closures and near-misses so the next crew reroutes.

Crew discussion questions

1. What does the route to this site look like at 5:30 a.m. in January?
2. Whose truck needs tires or wipers before the next storm?
3. How do we secure tools in the cabs and beds right now?
4. What is our real phone policy when driving between sites?

Applicable OSHA standards

More toolbox talks

• Ladder Safety
• Fall Protection Basics
• Heat Illness Prevention
• Lockout / Tagout: Controlling Energized Circuits
• Trench and Excavation Safety
• Silica Dust Control

Safety plans by trade

RoofingElectricalHVAC / MechanicalGeneral ContractorAll toolbox talks