INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
£ National Express Corp. technicians check the operating and diagnostic data of a school bus via the connected laptop computer. Experts urge care with all equipment, and they promote using proper safety signage and requiring staff to wear personal protective gear in the shop.
FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION MAINTENANCE MANAGERS SAY TRAINING, AWARENESS AND TEAMWORK HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTS IN THE BUS GARAGE
WRITTEN BY MICHELLE FISHER
managers also work diligently to promote safety in the garage. Day in and day out, bus mechanics face numerous risks while working with heavy equipment. Understanding that level of risk is key to
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accident prevention, stated Ron Mischka, shop foreman at Toledo (Ohio) Public Schools. “You have to be aware of your surround- ings and what you’re doing, knowing in the back of your mind that you’re in a danger- ous situation,” he said. James Cade, vice president of mainte-
nance for National Express Corporation, agreed that staying alert to potential hazards helps in protecting employees. “Te devil is in the details. You can’t just assume something is going to be done prop- erly. You have to inspect (equipment), estab- lish procedures and observe what is going on in your shop,” said Cade, who started out as a bus mechanic himself. “Be ever vigilant, and make sure you are minimizing risks as much as possible.” In bus shops, cleanliness and organization
improve both productivity and safety, he explained, by eliminating trip hazards, for example. Te company requires mechanics to wear uniforms with yellow reflective strips as well as safety glasses and steel-toed boots in work areas. “One of the most common risks is
28 School Transportation News March 2013
hile the school bus industry continuously drives home the message of safety on the road, transportation
dropping items, and another is back injuries from lifting,” Cade continued. “When we hire people, we go through proper lifting procedures and periodically review that at safety meetings. We conduct a minimum of 10 safety meetings every year in each shop.” Shop supervisors also conduct month-
ly, bimonthly and annual inspections of different types of equipment, he added. Te inspections serve as a reminder for supervi- sors to walk the shop and check that tools and equipment are well maintained. Pam McDonald, transportation direc- tor of the Orange (Calif.) Unified School District since 1996, is a strong proponent of safety reminders in the shop and has dozens of signs to prove it. “We purchased a lot of safety signs to hang up as reminders: ‘Use your eye protec- tion,’ ‘Turn off your engines,’ etc. It reminds them to be safe,” she said, noting that some posters feature her own mechanics demon- strating proper procedure. “We try to be proactive instead of reactive.” McDonald said it is critical to hold regular
training on preventive techniques like wearing personal protective equipment. To prevent in- juries, Orange USD mechanics must wear eye protection and gloves, especially when dealing with degreasers, oil and other chemicals. “We ask all employees to let us know if
they see something hazardous in the garage so we can fix it before somebody gets hurt. It will save money in the long run because workers comp can get expensive,” she said.
Mario Garcia, the district’s vehicle main- tenance supervisor, is proud to report there have been no shop accidents during his 13- year tenure. Yet he recalls one incident that taught everyone the importance of setting the parking brake — after a technician forgot to do so, the vehicle went into reverse and hit other vehicles. No one was injured. “We learned from that, and we put up
signs reminding everyone to shift the vehi- cle into park when it’s in the garage,” said Garcia. “Te more often we see these signs, it becomes second nature for us.” As the supervisor, he is responsible for
training technicians and staying abreast of new developments. “It’s very important to train as needed
because the industry changes, and there may be new and safer ways to do certain things,” he said. “In the shop, you’re aware of the person next to you and his health. Te com- radery and teamwork make a difference.” Brad Aemisegger, transportation director
at Toledo schools, also proudly reported that no shop accidents or injuries have occurred on his watch. He attributes this safety re- cord to having experienced technicians and following OSHA guidelines, even though the state does not require it. “Most of our mechanical staff are sea-
soned veterans in the field and have been with us several years,” he said. “We will purchase any tool or safety equipment that enables them to do their jobs safely … and I think that helps.”
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