A dump truck is a commercial vehicle used to load and unload cargo from an origin site to a destination site. These vehicles are commonly used to transport sand, gravel, and many other types of construction material. Properly emptying a load requires specific skills as well as a clear understanding of the unloading process to prevent damage to any person or property.
Operators of these vehicles must be licensed and well trained to avoid any potential workplace hazards and must read and fully follow operator safety manuals before operating the vehicle.
The following are twelve easy steps to follow when unloading a dump truck that will always put safety first in the unloading procedure.
1. Check for potential hazards in the unloading area before starting the backing up procedure. You must comply with all published and printed workplace safety regulations to prevent work-related accidents. This is a part of risk prevention designed to reduce insurance premiums by eliminating any unnecessary liability and/or workers’ compensation claims. It is true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
two. Ask a spotter to help you back up to avoid accidents and/or foreseeable injuries. If a spotter is not available, use orange or green safety cones, place them at the rear corners of the trailer to alert any bystanders that something dangerous is going on.
3. Check one more time to make sure no one is within 20 to 30 feet of the rear of the truck, and then return to the cab.
Four. Check your side mirrors before backing up to make sure the area behind you is clear; turn on the hazard lights.
5. Depress the clutch and put the gear lever in reverse mode and release the clutch pedal slowly while applying pressure to the accelerator pedal.
6. Back the truck up slowly to get as close as possible to the edge of the dump when the material will be unloaded.
7. Check and recheck the site as you back up, making sure throughout the process that there are no bystanders within 20 to 30 feet of the rear of the vehicle.
8. When you are in the correct location, shift into park, engage the parking brake, and turn off the engine.
9. Go to the back of the dump box, unhook or unlock the tailgate. Engage the PTO to raise the truck bed and apply downward pressure on the brake pedal.
10 Blow the horn to make a loud sound when the contents start to settle on the ground. This is to alert bystanders and staff that unloading of materials has begun. Many accidents occur during the unloading process due to the inattention of bystanders who may be hit by debris flying off the truck bed as it is being raised to unload.
eleven Depress the clutch pedal and shift into first gear, allowing the vehicle to creep forward to fully dump material from the bed. Do not try to move the truck faster by stepping on the accelerator and then pressing on the brake pedal, as sudden braking could damage the trailer or tailgate.
12 When material is fully dumped, disengage PTO to lower dump deck. When the box is fully lowered onto the truck frame, go to the rear and lock the tailgate latch lever to secure the tailgate. Now, you can go back to the quarry to get more material.
Operating a dump truck requires education, training, and proper vigilance. Workplace safety must be taken seriously to control and eliminate preventable hazards in the workplace. It is very important to maintain an injury-free work environment to avoid fines and penalties. Compensation claims and driver’s license revocation are common results of negligence. Following all of the steps above will help ensure that your download experience is successful!