12 important steps to emptying a dump truck load!
A dump truck is a commercial vehicle used to load and unload cargo from its origin to its destination. These vehicles are commonly used to transport sand, gravel and many other types of construction materials. Proper unloading of cargo requires specific skills as well as a clear knowledge of the unloading process to prevent damage to any person or property.
Operators of these vehicles must be licensed and properly trained to prevent any potential hazards on the job site, and they must read and follow all operator safety manuals before operating the vehicle.
Following are twelve easy steps to follow when unloading a dump truck that will always put safety first in the disposal procedure.
1. Check for potential hazards in the disposal area before starting the maintenance procedure. You must adhere to all posted and printed workplace safety standards to prevent work-related accidents. This is part of risk prevention designed to lower insurance premiums by eliminating any unnecessary liability and/or workers’ compensation claims. It is true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
2. Ask a bystander to help you back up to prevent any foreseeable accidents and/or injuries. If a bystander is not available, use orange or green safety cones by placing them in the rear corners of the trailer to warn any bystanders that something dangerous is about to happen.
3. Double check to make sure no one is within 20 or 30 feet of the back of the truck and then get back into the cab.
4. Check your side mirrors before reversing to make sure the area behind you is clear; turn on the hazard lights.
5. Step on the clutch and shift the gear lever into reverse and slowly release the clutch pedal while depressing the accelerator pedal.
6. Slowly back the truck to get as close as possible to the edge of the dump site when the material will be unloaded.
7. Check and recheck the spot while backing up, making sure there are no bystanders within 20 to 30 feet of the rear of the vehicle during the entire process.
8. When you’re in the right place, shift the gear into park, engage the parking brake, and shut off the engine.
9. Go to the back of the bed, unhook or unlock the back door. Engage the power take-off (PTO) to raise the truck bed and apply downward pressure to the brake pedal.
10. Press the horn to make a loud sound as the contents begin to settle on the ground. This is to alert passers-by and personnel that disposal of the materials has begun. Many accidents occur during the unloading process due to the carelessness of bystanders who may be struck by debris flying from the truck bed as it is lifted for disposal.
11. Depress the clutch pedal and shift into first gear, allowing the vehicle to slowly move forward to completely empty the material from the bed. Do not attempt to accelerate the truck by depressing the accelerator pedal and then applying the brake pedal, as sudden stopping may cause damage to the trailer or tailgate.
12. When the material is fully unloaded, disengage the power take-off (PTO) to lower the dump platform. When the bed is fully lowered onto the truck frame, go to the rear and lock the tailgate latch lever to secure the tailgate. Now you can go back down to the quarry to get more material.
Dump truck operation requires education, training and proper vigilance. Workplace safety must be seriously maintained to control and eliminate preventable workplace hazards. It is very important to maintain an injury-free work environment to avoid fines and penalties. Compensation claims and driving license suspensions are common results of negligence. Following all of the above steps will help ensure that your dumping experience is a satisfying one!
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