A dirty car is a hazard to you in many ways. If your windows and mirrors are dirty, it can obstruct your view from the road. Items such as trash, water bottles, books, or other things in your car can cause harm to you if you are in an accident. It is best to try and have only what you need in your car while driving. A tidy vehicle is a safe vehicle — this is why frequent housekeeping is so important.
OSHA may consider any motor vehicle as a work environment when a worker is using the vehicle for work-related activities including driving between work locations, transporting materials, running errands, visiting clients and making deliveries.
Keeping your vehicle clean, organized and maintained is beneficial and
– Keeps the driver and passengers safe.
– Saves time when items are easily found.
– Makes it easy when space is already available for passengers, materials, tools and equipment.
– Projects a positive image for the employee and the company.
OSHA Standard 1904.5(b)(1) OSHA defines the work environment as “the establishment and other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment. The work environment includes not only physical locations, but also the equipment or materials used by the employee during the course of his or her work.”
If a vehicle used for work becomes cluttered and full of trash, debris, material or equipment it can become hazardous to the worker and affect the safety of everyone on the road.
Free moving materials may roll or fly into the vehicle floorboard and become caught under pedals causing drivers to lose control of the vehicle. Fire extinguishers with no safety pin could blow up in the cab while driving, causing difficult visibility and breathing.
Clutter can become a distraction to the driver when liquids spill or trash falls onto the floor and any distraction while driving can be deadly.
• Store all items away from the main sitting area of the vehicle or make sure they are secure.
• Remove items from under the vehicle seats, especially items that can roll like water bottles.
• Clear folders, tools, beverage containers or any other items from dashboards.
• Clean mud or snow off shoes before operating the vehicle.
• Clean up spills and throw away trash promptly.
• If you become distracted by a spill or item that has fallen in the vehicle, pull over and stop in a safe area before you tend to it.
• Keep the vehicle you are using clean and maintained.
Take pride in your work trucks, they reflect you and Patriot General.
Clean windows and mirrors often to maintain optimal visibility. Consider keeping a window cleaner in your vehicle stored safely and readily accessible to use when needed. Create a habit of always cleaning the windshield when refueling. Store material in an orderly manner to keep the vehicle clean and organized.
• Separate tools, equipment, and supplies into bins, shelves, or compartments to make it easier find what is needed to complete the task.
• Secure all loose items.
• Avoid piling objects too high, inside or outside of the vehicle, to ensure the driver can always see clearly.
