Remember to keep your feet on the ground
While many may think the biggest safety risk for drivers might be a crash or on-road accident, many injuries are actually the result of everyday activities. Provide your drivers with a few simple tricks to help reduce workplace injuries.
Slips, trips, and falls can happen at many points throughout a driver’s day, including when:
•Getting in and out of the cab,
•Checking the load,
•At the shipper and receiver, and
•Climbing up and dismounting the vehicle.
As well as being painful and potentially embarrassing, a slip, trip, or fall can be costly for both the driver and the motor carrier. Something as simple as missing a step or walking across a wet warehouse floor can cause an accident. These accidents can mean a loss in working hours and income for the driver and a loss in productivity and profit for the motor carrier.
TIP: Teach drivers that they’re not immune to slips, trips, and falls. Remind them of which common incidents can cause driver injuries.
The basics: Slips, trips, and falls
Slips occur when there’s a loss of traction between your footwear and the walking surface. Advise your drivers to avoid slips by:
•Taking short steps and pointing their toes slightly outward when on slippery surfaces.
•Being extra cautious on smooth surfaces.
•Wearing appropriate footwear with good tread.
•Cleaning up or reporting spills right away. Trips occur whenever your foot hits an object while you’re moving with enough momentum to be thrown off balance. Advise your drivers to avoid trips by:
•Making sure they can see where they’re walking and not carrying loads they can’t see over.
•Keeping walking and working areas well lit.
•Keeping the work area clean and tidy.
•Properly maintaining walking areas and alerting the appropriate authorities to address maintenance-related hazards. Falls occur when you lose both your footing and your center of balance. Advise your drivers to avoid falls by:
•Never jumping off landings or loading docks.
•Repairing or replacing stairs and handrails that are loose or broken.
•Keeping passageways well-lit and clear of clutter.
TIP: Give drivers a short checklist of ways to avoid slips, trips, and falls while on the road to help them remember the best ways to stay safe.
3 is the magic number
The three points of contact rule is one of the most fundamental techniques used to prevent accidents.
The rule is simple — keep three of your four limbs in contact with the vehicle at all times. This can be two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot. The contact can be broken as soon as you reach your destination (such as the ground or the cab).
Consider the following steps as a simple example of using the three point of contact rule to enter a vehicle:
1.Grasp the vehicle’s handles with both hands.
2.Keep the weight of one foot on the ground while climbing onto the vehicle with the other foot.
3.Make sure both feet are planted firmly on the vehicle before moving either hand.
4.Reposition one hand at a time as necessary.
5.Lift one foot at a time into the vehicle, grasping the handles firmly with both hands until your body is safely seated inside the vehicle. ♦
TIP: Three points of contact is a proven technique in preventing dangerous accidents. Drivers should remember it whenever they’re maneuvering around their vehicle.
Provided by J.J. Keller & Associates
To view the full monthly newsletter click here: Slips, Trips and Falls Article January 2026
