Safety Belts
Being thrown from a moving vehicle is the number one cause of death in car
crashes. Staying inside the vehicle is your best chance of survival.
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The PNNL vehicle had a cab installed but was missing safety belts
and hip restraints. |
Use safety belts; they are designed to keep you there.
But what about vehicles that are not intended for over the road use?
On 10/08/2004 an employee at Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL)
fell from an open-configuration utility vehicle as it rounded the corner
of a cooling pond. The individual sustained a right leg fracture that
required surgery, hospitalization, and a lengthy recovery. It was
determined that the original equipment safety restraints (safety belts
and hip restraints) were not installed by the distributor following
installation of an optional cab.
Actually, safety belts are a good solution whenever staying in your
vehicle is preferable to being tossed out. With cars and trucks,
wearing them in the front seat improves your chances of survival by a
factor of two. Although statistics are not readily available, it is
clear that safety belts are also advisable in many industrial and construction
vehicles.
DOE requires the use of seat belts by each employee operating or riding in a
Government vehicle (41 CFR 109-6.400-50(g)). This rule is enforced for
anyone riding in one of our Fermilab taxis. The Illinois Rules of the Road
also require safety belts for everyone in a front seat, even if the vehicle
is equipped with air bags. Children up to the age of 16 must be in a safety
seat or safety belt, regardless of location in the vehicle. Additional
requirements apply if the driver is less than 18 years.
Have a great day and let's work safely all week!
Safety Tip of the Week Archive
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