The newsletter features articles on handling accident investigations and reconstruction; transportation and food distribution safety; safe vehicle operations; effective driver training programs; New York City's bridges and tunnels; a shop safety checklist; developing a written safety program; and actions transportation companies can take to prepare for a possible avian flu outbreak.
ASSE's Transportation Practice Specialty (TPS) group developed the special TransAction newsletter in support of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), which will take place May 6 through 12.
TransAction authors – all TPS members – include a safety engineering and biomechanics field expert; certified safety professionals; casualty risk control professionals; loss control specialists; a safety, health and environmental director for a national food company; a forensic engineer; transportation engineering experts; and a managing director of corporate safety, health and fire prevention for an international transportation company. TPS Administrator Doug Cook has 30 years of experience in transportation operations, sales and safety and is vice president of safety for Covenant Transport.
No. 1 Cause of Work-Related Deaths
Worldwide, roadway crashes and fatalities are at an all-time high, ASSE notes. Transportation incidents continue to be the No. 1 cause of on-the-job deaths each year in the United States.
The approximately 6.16 million vehicle crashes in 2005 resulted in the deaths of 43,443 people, injured 2.7 million more people and cost the United States $230.6 billion. The majority of those killed in crashes were drivers, and of those that died 75 percent were male.
According to the U.S. Fatal Accident Reporting System, 6,483 motor vehicle operators involved in fatal crashes had previous records for suspensions, revocations, DUI, speeding and harmful moving convictions.
The special TransAction newsletter can be found on the ASSE Web site. ASSE is encouraging its members to distribute it at work, to download it and forward it to family and friends in support of NAOSH Week, which this year will focus on all modes of transportation safety.