BRAKES, LIGHTS, AND TIRES ARE MY MOST COMMON VIOLATIONS. HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY SMS RESULTS?
One way to improve your Safety Measurement System (SMS) results is through clean inspections over time. To do this, consider three approaches: training, teamwork, and metrics. SMS is a great tool for identifying the drivers (and mechanics) responsible for the most violations.
This approach is reactive, but if the rest of the fleet appears to be performing well, you can focus your immediate attention on those individuals needing improvement. However, before you schedule them for remedial training, look for the problem’s root cause. Is it the worker’s attitude? What if the problem is systemic, such as management pushing hot loads despite reported mechanical defects? Training cannot resolve these issues. However, if training is the solution, devise a program to help the driver learn the proper inspection techniques.
It is also important to remember that everyone contributes to the company’s safety performance. Even as it relates to brakes, tires, and lights, it is not just the driver who will help improve your SMS results. Everyone, from the driver and mechanics to the back-office staff who maintain service records and purchase replacement parts, plays a role in obtaining clean inspections. It is a team effort, one which goes hand in hand with metrics.
Metrics such as SMS can help you identify negative trends and establish goals for improvement. By using metrics for each department, you can evaluate their safety performance and possibly identify underperforming teams. As mentioned earlier, SMS can show you which vehicles are experiencing the most violations. You can then use the SMS data to trace violations to the mechanic(s) responsible for servicing the vehicle. You can even determine which violations should have been caught by the driver or mechanic.
Here is a helpful brake inspection checklist provided by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Administration (CVSA): https://www.cvsa.org/wp-content/uploads/Brake-Inspection-Check-List.pdf
CALL TO ACTION
- Use SMS to identify negative trends in maintenance violations and devise a plan for improving your results.
Note: These lists are not intended to be all-inclusive.
This material is intended to be a broad overview of the subject matter and is provided for informational purposes only. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. does not provide legal advice to its insureds or other parties, nor does it advise insureds or other parties on employment-related issues, therefore the subject matter is not intended to serve as legal or employment advice for any issue(s) that may arise in the operations of its insureds or other parties. Legal advice should always be sought from legal counsel. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, action, or inaction alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the information contained herein. Reprinted with permission from Great West Casualty Company.