SECTION III:      BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL

                        HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM

 

 

F)      FLEET SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

 

PROCEDURES

 

1.  Safety of State-Owned Fleet Vehicles:

 

A.    Maintenance work on each fleet vehicle is scheduled and accomplished on a routine basis by Community Colleges of Spokane fleet personnel and by outside vendors.  The three methods utilized include:

 

·         Notation of maintenance needs on Trip Ticket forms by vehicle drivers with appropriate corrective follow-up under the direction of fleet maintenance staff.

 

·         Annual calendar schedule for fleet maintenance:  All vehicles are called in on a routine basis, per the established schedule, at which time fleet personnel perform minor service work, according to the Vehicle and Equipment Service Record form.

 

·         Monitoring of actual vehicle mileage to ensure that high usage vehicles are brought in for service on a more frequent, as-needed basis.

 

B.    Post-trip inspections of returned vehicles are completed by fleet personnel and include immediate reporting and corrective follow-up of any damage or malfunction noted and verification that the following emergency items are present  in the vehicle:

 

·         Emergency Procedures card (located in the glove box of each vehicle);

·         first-aid kit, adequately stocked;

·         fire extinguisher;

·         flares;

·         jack and lug wrench;

·         tire chains and ice scrapers (winter weather conditions).

 

C.    Brief vehicle inspection at time of fueling by fleet personnel, which includes:

 

·         tires (flats or tread bar that is worn);

·         oil and water levels;

·         a brief visual inspection for possible damage to the vehicle.

 

As noted in the handbooks of fleet personnel, "Proper care of the district fleet protects student, faculty, and fellow employees against accidents and loss of time in traveling to their scheduled destinations.  Your vision and prompt attention to such important details as proper air pressure and legal tread limits of tires, proper fuel and oil levels, lubrication at proper intervals, etc. is extremely important to the vehicle's safe operation.  The daily inspection of the condition of equipment and prompt attention to reported defects or malfunctioning part may preserve life and prevent injury."

 

2.  Emergency Procedures for Fleet Operators/Drivers

 

·         Policies and procedures are in effect regarding the use of fleet of the Community Colleges of Spokane, including who may drive a state vehicle and the fact that the individual who drives the vehicle is held responsible and accountable for the vehicle while it is at his/her disposition, for its safe return to the dispatch point and for compliance with Fleet Policies and Procedures of Community Colleges of Spokane.

 

§  Fleet information, including emergency procedures, is distributed to CCS employees at the college or unit level by college administrators.

 

§  If, during use of a vehicle on state business, the vehicle is not operating properly and, in the driver's opinion, continued operation could cause injury to the vehicle and/or its occupants, or if the driver does not feel confident enough to complete the journey, the driver is required to contact appropriate CCS staff to request assistance, according to the specific circumstances (e.g., authorization for emergency repairs, etc.).

 

3.  Fleet Personnel Safety

 

Fleet personnel of the CCS Facilities department receive a job-specific employee handbook, containing an Emergency Procedures section, which is general in part but also contains specific warnings and information regarding the handling of various fleet-related materials.

 

4.  Drivers of State Vehicles

 

State vehicles are to be used only for official state business.  The individual who drives the vehicle is held responsible and accountable for that vehicle while it is at his/her disposition, for its safe return to the dispatch point, and for compliance with established CCS fleet policies and procedures.

 

5.  Permanently Assigned State Vehicles

 

Those individuals who, by the nature of their CCS job requirements, have been assigned long-term usage of a specific state vehicle are required to sign the Acknowledgment of Understanding of Fleet Policies and Procedures form. 

 

6.  Use of Privately Owned Vehicles in the Conduct of Official State Business

 

Those individuals authorized by Community Colleges of Spokane to approve Fleet Requests are also authorized to permit use of privately owned vehicles in the conduct of official state business in lieu of using a state vehicle where it has first been reasonably determined that:

 

·         a state owned passenger vehicle is not available at the time or location required, and/or,

 

·         such use is conducive to and in the interest of economic, efficient, and effective management and performance in the conduct of official state business.

 

It is the responsibility of the individual who has been authorized to utilize a privately owned passenger vehicle on official state business (in lieu of a state owned passenger vehicle) to ensure that the vehicle meets the requirements of safe operating standards which have been established for state vehicles, and to operate said vehicle in the manner and per the established policies and procedures for operation of a state owned passenger vehicle while engaged in the conduct of official state business.

 

7.  Accident Prevention  (driving a vehicle with which you are unfamiliar)

 

To minimize the risks associated with driving a vehicle with which you are unfamiliar, always take time to learn about the specific operational features of the vehicle before you actually start to drive.  This should include:

 

·         control operations (e.g., dashboard controls; gauges; windshield wipers and washers; heater and air conditioner; turn signals; headlights (both low and high beams); emergency brake; warning lights; horn; adjustability of the seat belts and the side view mirrors, etc.);

 

·         how the vehicle is fueled;

 

·         presence of owner’s manual in the vehicle;

 

·         a quick exterior safety check of vehicle (e.g., look for signs of fuel leaks, check turn signals, inflation of tires/appropriateness for terrain/weather conditions);

 

·         appropriate emergency items (e.g., spare tire and jack; emergency flares, scraper and tire chains for winter driving, etc.);

 

·         the vehicle’s unique handling characteristics (e.g., how it steers and brakes; how it accelerates and decelerates) before you drive at higher speeds and before you drive in areas of heavily congested traffic;

 

·         if it is a different size vehicle than you normally drive, remember to make allowances for resulting differences in how you handle the vehicle, including parking.

 

For safe driving tips, refer to Section VII:  Safe Work Practices, Driving Safety portion of this document.

 

8.  Travel Tips for Safety and Security

 

·         Prevent vehicle breakdown through familiarity with the specific vehicle’s operation and maintenance of the vehicle in safe operational condition.

 

·         Always keep a vehicle’s fuel tank reasonably full and periodically check washer fluid levels, transmission fluid and engine oil.

 

·         Always keep the vehicle locked (both when in use and when vehicle is parked).

 

·         As feasible, exercise care in where you park a vehicle, avoiding obviously questionable locations or remote, isolated areas, particularly if you are traveling alone or will return to the vehicle during hours of darkness.

 

·         Remain especially alert at airports and rest stops, which are more frequent sites for attempted hold-ups and car-jackings.

 

·         Be cautious and alert should a minor vehicle accident be caused by another, particularly if this occurs in a remote or sparsely populated area.  If you have reason to be suspicious, consider driving to a public place with a large crowd or contact a law enforcement unit before pulling over.

 

9.  Vehicle Breakdown

 

Safe procedures to follow should a vehicle breakdown occur will vary according to location of breakdown, whether the driver is traveling alone, etc.  In general, should a vehicle breakdown occur on a well-traveled roadway, but  one which is isolated from telephone access to summon aid (e.g., a freeway):

 

·         pull to a safe place at the side of the road;

·         raise hood of vehicle and/or turn on flashing emergency blinkers;

·         remain in the locked vehicle until state patrol assistance arrives on the scene.