H.W. Heinrich worked for Traveler’s Insurance in the early 1900s, where he studied risk and workplace safety. Heinrich developed what is now known as the “300-29-1” rule: for every 330 unsafe acts there will be 29 incidents (minor injuries) and one serious event. He arrived at this hypothesis after staking out a shortcut through a field adjacent to a factory. At the end of each shift, factory workers would use the shortcut, which meant having to climb and jump a Frost fence. One out of every 330 fence-jumpers seriously injured an ankle, while another 29 fell and clearly demonstrated that they had earned themselves at the very least a sore ankle from the jump.

Simplistic? Sure. But Heinrich’s observations reinforce two important ideas about risk: 1) people will compromise their own well being for the sake of a short cut; and 2) most folks will emerge from their experience unscathed. They’ll keep hopping the fence until they’re tripped up by the odds-or until the factory gates off access to the shortcut.

These principles apply to truck drivers, too. As we head into a time of year when vehicles are turning more miles and the weather is bearing down, review your own accident history. Take time to examine why accidents happen and what can be done to prevent them.

At our fleet, accidents generally fall into four categories: backing, rear-enders, hitting fixed objects, and intersection collisions. I sat down and, using proven defensive driving techniques, wrote a plan to change the “at risk” driving habits that contribute to and result in each type of accident. I laid out the subject matter so each topic can be delivered in about five minutes, so don’t tell me you don’t have the time.

Start each meeting with the facts-quantify what kind of impact each type of accident has on the company’s bottom line and on driver compensation. Then move on to proper technique, followed by discussion and comments from your drivers.

Here’s how I tackled a meeting about backing accidents (I’ll look at our other concerns in future issues). Use it as a template to develop your own safety meeting agenda.

Meeting #1: Backing Accidents
The Facts: This is our number one-accident classification-out of every 100 vehicle accidents in our fleet, 35 involve backing. The average claim costs $254 US.

How much money does a backing accident cost the company and driver (our drivers are leased operators)?

Loss of quarterly safe driving bonus: $250.
Cost of rental vehicle: $100 per day.
Bumper replacement: $675, less deductible.
Insurance deductible: $500.
Total out-of-pocket cost: $850.

The Right Technique: Outline the following proven techniques for safe backing:

1. Plan ahead-work out your approach so you don’t have to back, if possible.

2. Go slowly. Trucks are designed to move forward; you have little control over your vehicle as you back. Give yourself time to react if the unexpected happens.

3. Use both mirrors. Get the complete picture of what is going on behind your vehicle. Mirrors will further assist those with rear vision cameras by expanding the viewing area that may be outside of the camera’s range.

4. Get out of the truck and check for overhead wires, potholes, awnings, low-hanging branches, and elevated areas. Be aware of any dangers before you back.

5. Be seen and heard. Use your four-way flashers and your horn while backing so others are aware of you.

6. Use a helper where available, and make sure you’ve got your signals straight.

7. Don’t back up any farther than necessary.

8. Use technology. They won’t replace good technique, but some backing aids-cameras, alarms, etc.-cost less than the average cost of just one backing incident.

Remember, backing is a procedure. Never short cut a process that was designed to help you complete your everyday work safely.