Steps 1. Perform pre-operational safety and equipment check. Hazard: Mechanical damage or non-functioning tires, brakes, steering, lights, horn. Control: Before using cart: check tires, brakes, steering, lights, horn. Report any deficiencies to Operations team. Do not operate until problems have been corrected. 2. Vehicle Operation Hazard: Bodily Injury: Potential for tip over. Impact with objects or other vehicles, running over pedestrians, injuries to driver or passengers’ legs, arms or other body parts. Control: Vehicles shall not be operated in a manner that may endanger passengers or other individuals (e.g., pedestrians), or harm property. Driver and Passengers must keep arms and legs in the vehicle while moving until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Carts may not carry more passengers than available seats. No one is permitted to ride in the bed of a utility cart, sit on the front of a utility cart or hang from the cart for any purpose. Universal hand signals must be used for turning while operating in parking lots and/or roadways where electric signaling devices do not exist. Drivers shall follow all normal vehicle traffic patterns. Do not cross against traffic or take shortcuts against the flow of traffic. Drivers shall obey all traffic signs. Drivers must come to a full stop at all “STOP” signs and yield to all pedestrians in designated areas. 4. Comply with Passenger Limit and Load Capacity Hazard: Bodily Injury: Exceeding the load limit may result in a tip over or obstructed vision leading to a crash resulting in bodily injury. Control: Do not exceed the passenger limit or load capacity designated by the vehicle’s manufacturer. 5. Parking Hazard: Parking directly behind a car, truck or service van may result in property damage, injury or death. Blocking emergency vehicles paths may result in lost response time for emergencies. Parking on uneven, soft or rocky surfaces may result in a slip or fall while exiting or entering the cart. Leaving keys in unattended carts may result in theft, property damage and injury to other people. Control: Do not block entrances to buildings, stairways, disability ramps, or main thoroughfares. Allowed only on hard-covered surfaces (e.g., asphalt, concrete, brick) unless necessary for work tasks and approved by Facilities Management; Prohibited on soft surfaces, including but not limited to: landscaping, unpaved surfaces, etc. unless authorized by Facilities Management. Do not leave keys in unattended carts. Do not push a stalled cart as this can cause damage to the cart. 6. Speed Limit Hazard: Excessive speed in such vehicles may result in a crash causing bodily injury. Control: Drivers must reduce speed on walkways and in pedestrian areas to a slow “walking” pace. Pull over if the speed your traveling in the utility cart-type vehicle is slowing down traffic or if you observe an unsafe motorist. 7. Recharging Electric Vehicles Hazard: Electrocution, exposure to battery acid, burns, etc. Control: Electric vehicles will be recharged at location. Designated by authorized personal only. Do not plug in cart if charge cables are damaged. Report any exposed electrical wires or fluid leaks to Facilities Management. 8. Servicing/Changing Batteries Hazard: Electrocution, exposure to battery acid, burns, etc. Control: All batteries shall be serviced by a competent person following manufacturer’s recommendations for proper handling, storage, servicing and disposal. Employees servicing batteries must wear proper PPE to include safety glasses and face shield, rubber or equivalent protective gloves, long sleeves and pants and a chemical protective apron and/or Tyvek type suit is recommended. 9. Refueling Gas Operated Vehicles Hazard: Potential for fires or explosion resulting in personal injury, property damage and/or death. Fuel spills may also create slip, trip & fall hazards as well as environmental clean-up responsibilities and potential fines. Static electricity combined with sudden vapor release may ignite vapors, resulting in fire and/or explosion, which may cause injury, property damage and/or death. Potential for mild to severe burns, other injuries and/or death. Control: Make sure cart is off when refueling. Ensure that equipment has had plenty of time to cool down before refueling. Some equipment requires a “cool down” period before refueling. Do not smoke while refueling. Only use approved Safety Cans, meeting OSHA or DOT requirements for refueling equipment. Ensure that gas cans have not been left in direct sunlight. Slowly release spring loaded handle to release gasoline vapors. Complete this step away from equipment and other potential ignition sources. Where necessary, insert funnel into tank to avoid spilling fuel on equipment. Prepare to refuel by positioning yourself in a manner that will allow for a steady and ergonomically correct position and hold on the container for the duration of the fueling process. Once positioned, again release spring-loaded handle to allow vapors to escape prior to touching any metal surface on the equipment that is being refueled. Fill the equipment slowly to avoid excessive vapor and static electricity buildup. This will also decrease splattering and spilling. Do not overfill – Fill fuel containers to approximately 95% capacity to allow for vapor expansion. Place cap on tightly. Any gasoline that spills on the equipment must be allowed to evaporate or be cleaned off prior to engine start-up. Where possible, store fuel container in a location away from excessive heat and/or direct sunlight. Report any fuel spills immediately. 10. Reporting Accidents and Injuries Hazard: None. Control: Immediately report all accidents to Operations personnel.
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