Safety is our cornerstone value and injury prevention is about YOUR safety at Roehl.
Roehl experiences an increase in slip, trip and fall injuries as temperatures decline. Please pick up a pair of winter cleats at our parts counter at any of our terminals. We want you to take care of yourself this winter.
Wear work shoes or work boots with proper tread and wear cleats over this footwear when you will be walking on ice and/or snow. Remove your cleats before walking on flooring such as concrete, linoleum and steel or other metal that makes up the floor or bed of certain trailers as cleats work poorly on these surfaces. We want you to be successful this winter, we want you to be prepared and want you to be safe.
Please keep the following safety tips in mind:
- Use special care when entering and exiting vehicles; assume all wet, dark areas on pavements are slippery and icy and be aware of changes in walking surfaces.
- Maintain three points of contact when exiting or entering your vehicle.
- Give yourself more time to inspect your equipment. SLOW DOWN – don’t rush so you can walk slowly when inspecting your equipment.
- Walk in designated walkways as much as possible. Taking shortcuts over snow piles and other frozen areas can be hazardous.
- Always be on the lookout for thin ice on dock steps, tractor steps, cat-walks, and ICC bumpers.
- When climbing interior or exterior stairs, use a handrail for additional support if they are available.
- Walk slowly! Point your feet out slightly like a penguin! Take short steps or shuffle for increased stability.
- Bend slightly and walk flat-footed with your center of gravity over your feet as much as possible. Extend your arms out to your sides to maintain balance.
- Keep your hands out of your pockets! Hands in your pockets while walking decreases your center of gravity and balance.
- Stay focused! Avoid distractions like talking or texting on cell phones. Look ahead when you walk!
WALK LIKE A PENGUIN
When it's cold, wet and icy ...
And things look kinda’ dicey ...
Put on your best pair of grippy fins,
And WALK LIKE THE PENGUINS!
KNEES relaxed
Toes pointed OUT
SHORT steps
SLOW and deliberate
Hands FREE
Thank you for being a member of TeamRoehl!
During the winter months, we see an increase in disconnects. With the beginning of this winter season, we are seeing the same trend as past winters. With your assistance in proper coupling procedures, we can break this trend.
No one wants to spend any more time outside in the cold than they have to, but, doing a proper inspection prior to, and after coupling to your trailer, is part of the job. Dress appropriate! Wear gloves, a hat, boots, winter clothing and a winter jacket to protect yourself from the elements.
Remember, anytime you’re coupling, the first thing you should do is get out of your truck and physically inspect your 5th wheel.
When getting out of the truck use this process to safely exit the truck:
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Use 3 points of contact when either entering or exiting the truck.
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Be sure to be careful when walking on snow or ice (walk like a penguin!)
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Use your cleats if conditions warrant it.
Inspect your 5th wheel:
Once you have connected to your trailer, you’re going to have to verify you have done this successfully, so you do not have a DISCONNET. Only doing a tug test to check the trailer did connect IS NOT your verification the trailer is coupled correctly!
Remember PAL? Pin, Airlines, Landing Gear. To check the pin – you’re going to have to get out of the truck again. Remember, walk like a penguin on snow or ice and use your cleats if conditions warrant it!
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As you’re walking back to check the king pin is securely seated in the 5th wheel, you want to make sure you push the 5th wheel release handle in to verify it is all the way in.
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Then, to make sure all the springs are still connected and moving the jaw/slide bar properly, you will need to crouch to get under the trailer with a flashlight,
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Make sure your footing is stable, so you don’t fall.
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Shine the flashlight into the throat of the 5th wheel and look to verify the jaws/locking bar has locked all the way across the kingpin.
Taking a little more time to inspect your 5th wheel and verify you’ve coupled your trailer correctly to eliminate the chances of a disconnect is better than possible damage of equipment, property, or cargo.
If you are having difficulty with your 5th wheel, reach out to your maintenance teammates. If you’re checking in for maintenance on your equipment at a terminal, let them know you need your 5th wheel inspected and possibly lubed.
This photo is an example of a snow and ice packed 5th wheel. This snow and ice can prevent you from successfully coupling your trailer if you do not clean it out.
The photos below show the jaws/locking bar closed prior to coupling.
Following these tips will help you be successful in coupling to your trailer and avoiding having a disconnect.
Thank you for being a member of TeamRoehl!