OSHA launches initiative to prevent backover incidents

Each year, backover incidents lead to serious injuries and fatalities in construction zones and workplaces. To help prevent these incidents, OSHA has launched an initiative to raise awareness of safety practices.

OSHA’s #MirrorCheck initiative provides resources to help educate workers and employers and reduce the risk of backover incidents. Safe work practices include:

• Equipping heavy machinery with audio and visual alarms and encouraging caution when operating machinery around workers.
• Properly adjusting mirrors to minimize blind spots.
• Using spotters to maintain constant visual contact with drivers and establishing hand signals to communicate effectively.
• Installing rearview cameras to enhance safety without blocking a driver’s view.
• Employing proximity detection systems, such as radar or ultrasonic technologies, that can be mounted on some vehicles.
• Developing internal traffic control plans to coordinate equipment, worker, and vehicle movement.

More information about #MirrorCheck can be found on OSHA’s webpage.