4111 - Local and Suburban Transit
LOCAL AND SUBURBAN TRANSIT
SIC CODE 4111
Section 9
SAFETY RULES, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES
The safety rules contained on these pages have been prepared to protect you in your daily work. Employees are to follow these rules, review them often and use good common sense in carrying out assigned duties.
ALL PERSONNEL
Lifting Procedures 3
BUS OPERATORS/DRIVERS
Pre-Start Safety 4
On Road Driving Safety 4
Customer Relations 5
ROUTE AND TERMINAL MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
Sign Installation and Repair 5
Pruning Trees and Shrubs 5
Line Trimmer Use 6
Cleaning Bathrooms 6
Trash Removal 6
Cleaning Chemicals 6
ROAD SERVICE PERSONNEL
Service Vehicles/Driving Safety 6
Traffic Control 7
Vehicle Jacks 7
MECHANICS
General Rules 7
Pneumatic Tools 7
Hydraulic Lifts 7
Service Pits 8
Hand Tools 8
Brake Lathes 9
Engine Removal 9
Hoists 9
Hazardous Chemicals 10
Flammable Liquid Storage 10
Battery Handling and Storage 11
Housekeeping 11
TIRE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
General Rules
Mounting 12
Demounting 12
Tire Stacking and Handling 12
BODY SHOP PERSONNEL
Oxy-Fuel Welding 13
Arc Welding 14
Spray Paint Operations 15
Respirators 15
Scaffolds 15
Ladders 16
Grinders 16
SERVICE ATTENDANTS
Fueling 16
Bus Vacuuming and Cleaning 16
Bus Wash 16
Steam Jenny Operation 17
PARTS WAREHOUSE PERSONNEL
General Rules 17
Hand Trucks 18
Pallet Jacks 18
Forklifts 18
Dock Rules 21
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
Ladders and Step Ladders 21
Drum Handling 22
Electrical Powered Tools 22
Power Saws 22
OFFICE PERSONNEL
Office Safety 24
Video Display Terminals Ergonomics 25
ALL PERSONNEL
Lifting Procedures
1. Plan the move before lifting; remove obstructions from your chosen pathway.
2. Test the weight of the load before lifting by pushing the load along its resting surface.
3. If the load is too heavy or bulky, use lifting and carrying aids such as hand trucks, dollies, pallet jacks and carts, or get assistance from a co-worker.
4. If assistance is required to perform a lift, coordinate and communicate your movements with those of your coworker.
5. Position your feet 6 to 12 inches apart with one foot slightly in front of the other.
6. Face the load.
7. Bend at the knees, not at the back.
8. Keep your back straight.
9. Get a firm grip on the object with your hands and fingers. Use handles when present.
10. Never lift anything if your hands are greasy or wet.
11. Wear protective gloves when lifting objects with sharp corners or jagged edges.
12. Hold objects as close to your body as possible.
13. Perform lifting movements smoothly and gradually; do not jerk the load.
14. If you must change direction while lifting or carrying the load, pivot your feet and turn your entire body. Do not twist at the waist.
15. Set down objects in the same manner as you picked them up, except in reverse.
16. Do not lift an object from the floor to a level above your waist in one motion. Set the load down on a table or bench and then adjust your grip before lifting it higher.
17. Slide materials to the end of the tailgate before attempting to lift them off of a pick-up truck. Do not lift over the walls or tailgate of the truck bed.
BUS OPERATORS/DRIVERS
Pre-Start Safety
1. Use the handrails when entering and exiting the bus.
2. No personal stereo headphone use is permitted.
3. Bend at the knees when picking up trash off the floor of the bus.
4. Maintain a clean driver's area with no paper, cups, towels, rags or schedules cluttering up the dash.
5. Adjust your seat for the most comfortable fit.
6. Do not operate the bus if the primary system gauge reads below 100 psi.
7. Adjust all mirrors so that you have a clear view.
8. Shut all doors and fasten your seat belt before moving the vehicle.
9. Do not rush out of your seat. Slowly maneuver around the fare box.
10. Place the transmission in neutral before starting.
On Road Driving Safety
1. Obey all traffic laws and signs at all times.
2. Do not exceed posted speed limits.
3. Do not make sudden lane changes except in emergency situations.
4. Be prepared to stop at a changing traffic signal.
5. Do not follow other vehicles too closely. Watch the vehicle ahead of you pass a fixed object; begin counting "one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three"; If you reach the object before counting to three, you are following too closely.
6. Give yourself additional distance from other vehicles when it is raining, when you are being tailgated, or when you are driving over 45 miles per hour.
7. Never unlock the tilt steering lever while the bus is in motion.
8. Do not coast with the automatic transmission in neutral.
9. Use emergency flashers when making any stop.
10. Never back a bus on busy streets or highways, except in emergency situations. Do not back buses to pick up or discharge passengers.
11. Avoid lengthy conversations with passengers.
12. Use both hands on the steering wheel.
13. Do not drive under an overhang without ascertaining proper clearance.
14. Do not change destination signs or punch transfers while the bus is in motion.
Procedures at Railroad Crossings
1. When approaching railroad tracks, engage the emergency flashers and bring your vehicle to a complete stop before crossing the tracks.
2. Do not drive the vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while such gate or barrier is in motion to open or close.
Customer Relations
1. Wear minimal amounts of jewelry to prevent the risk of getting attacked.
2. Avoid arguments at all cost. Never use rude, abusive language or profanity even if such language is used against you.
3. If problems occur, call for assistance from the dispatcher.
4. No operator may eject a passenger from a bus.
5. Do not carry firearms or display any object that can be used as a weapon or defensive device.
6. Do not physically challenge, restrain, or fight any person unless as an act of self-defense.
7. In the event of an emergency, follow this procedure:
1. Immediately pull the bus safely to the side of the road and open both doors.
2. Give the specific location and the nature of the problem to the dispatcher and request a road supervisor and law enforcement come to the scene of the problem.
3. Advise other patrons to remain away from the problem.
4. Evacuate the bus if necessary.
5. Inform the road supervisor and law enforcement of the facts when they arrive at the scene.
ROUTE AND TERMINAL MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
Sign Installation and Repair
Step Ladders
1. Do not use a ladder that has loose rungs, cracked or split side rails, missing rubber foot pads or other visible damage.
2. Face the ladder when climbing up or down.
3. Maintain a three-point contact by keeping both hands and one foot or both feet and one hand on the ladder at all times when climbing up or down the ladder.
4. When performing work from a ladder, face the ladder and do not lean backward or sideways from the ladder.
Post Hole Diggers
1. Wear leather gloves and steel-toed shoes when using the posthole digger.
2. When handing a posthole digger to your coworker, hand it to him handles first.
3. Use two hands to control the posthole digger.
Pruning Trees and Shrubs
1. Wear leather gloves when handling tree branches.
2. If equipped, use the locking clip on the cutting shears after use.
3. Carry cutting tools with their tips pointed towards the ground.
4. Keep the blade of all cutting tools sharp.
5. Do not break tree branches over your knees.
Line Trimmer Use
1. Do not use a line trimmer that has parts that are loose, worn, cracked or otherwise visibly damaged.
2. Tag damaged line trimmers "Out of Service" to prevent accidental start up or use.
3. Do not alter or by-pass any safety device provided by the manufacturer.
4. Only use grip locations as specified by the manufacturer as a handhold when operating the line trimmer.
5. Keep your body parts and clothing away from the running engine and the trimming line.
6. Turn the power switch of the engine to "Off" when you are not trimming.
7. Allow the engine to cool before performing maintenance on it or refueling it.
8. Turn the power switch of the engine to "Off" and disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug before cleaning, inspecting, adjusting or repairing the cutting line or other rotating parts.
9. Before refueling the trimmer, remove it from your harness, place it on the ground and allow the engine to cool.
10. Do not pour fuel into the tank of a running engine.
11. Do not smoke while servicing, using or refueling a line trimmer.
12. When trimming along roads, stay as close to the curb as possible.
Cleaning Bathrooms
1. Upon discovery of wet floors, take short steps when walking on them.
2. Use caution signs and cones to barricade slippery floors.
3. When cleaning floors, wet only a small area of the floor at one time and dry mop it before cleaning another section.
4. Do not pick up broken glass, needles or razor blades with your bare hands. Use a dustpan and broom.
Trash Removal
Follow this procedure before picking up any bags that have sharp objects protruding from them: Grab the top of the bag above the tie-off with two hands and hold the bag away from your body.
Cleaning Chemicals
1. Follow the instructions on the label and in the corresponding Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each chemical product used in your workplace.
2. When spraying tile and window cleaner, hold the spray bottle at arm’s length away and direct the spray away from your body.
ROAD SERVICE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
Service Vehicles/Driving Safety
1. Shut all doors and fasten your seat belt before moving the vehicle.
2. Obey all traffic laws and signs at all times.
3. Maintain a three-point contact using both hands and one foot or both feet and one hand when climbing into and out of a vehicle.
4. Tie down, lash, or secure all materials and equipment hauled in the bed of the vehicle.
5. Do not ride in the bed of a pick-up truck.
6. Do not drive over 5 mph in the shop area.
Traffic Control
1. Wear the international orange reflective vest when directing traffic around service work.
2. Place orange warning cones, triangles, flares and "detour" signs at the roadside and behind the bus before beginning service work.
3. Do not walk into traffic lanes outside of the "coned off" work area.
Vehicle Jacks
1. Do not exceed the jack's rated lifting capacity as noted on the label of the jack.
2. Set the vehicle emergency brake before lifting the vehicle with a hydraulic jack.
3. Place the grooves of the jack head under the vehicle so that the frame rests along the grooves.
4. Clear all tools, equipment and any other obstructions from under the vehicle before lowering it.
MECHANICS
General Rules
1. No smoking or eating while performing work.
2. Before eating or drinking, wash your hands with soap and water.
3. Wear safety glasses when working on a brake drum or rotor of a bus.
4. Use the rear engine start and stop buttons to control the engine when making repairs.
5. When reaching in and around the engine or changing oil, apply barrier cream on your arms to prevent oil from penetrating your skin.
6. Use flexible tubing to vent exhaust fumes to the outdoors when running a bus engine while the shop doors are closed.
Pneumatic Tools
1. Do not point a compressed air hose at bystanders or use it to clean your clothing.
2. Do not use pneumatic tools that have handles with burrs or cracks.
3. Attach the pressure-reducing nozzle that is labeled "Reduces Pressure to 30 psi" to the air hose when using compressed air to clean. Wear safety goggles when using compressed air to clean.
4. Do not allow air hoses to loop on the floor when using them.
5. Do not pass air-powered tools by the hose from one worker to another.
6. Disconnect the tool from the air line before making any adjustments or repairs to the tool.
7. Turn the tool to the "Off" position and let it come to a complete stop before leaving it unattended.
8. Disengage the hand piece from the air hose and coil up the air hose on the work table or hose rack when it is not in use.
9. Do not use compressed air for comfort cooling.
Hydraulic Lifts
1. Follow the operating instructions provided by the lift's manufacturer.
2. Wear eye protection when working under vehicles to block dirt, debris, and parts from entering your eyes.
3. Use and never by-pass the safety latches on the hydraulic lift contact pads.
4. Do not stand in front of buses that are being driven on to the lift.
5. Do not raise the lift with anyone inside the bus.
6. Remove all tools, cords, hoses, trash and any other debris from the lift area and wipe up all grease and oil spills before driving a bus into your service bay.
7. Do not use any lift that has cracked contact pads, cracked lift arms or any other visible damage.