By: KC Pawling, NIRMA Road Safety and Loss Prevention Specialist
For many county road departments, the tasks performed every day become second nature. Routine grading, roadway maintenance, equipment operation, and inspections are activities employees do regularly. The associated procedures and safety practices remain fresh in their minds.
While complacency in routine operations can result in injuries, equipment damage, liability claims, or roadway hazards, these kinds of losses tend to arise more frequently during seasonal or infrequent tasks that may only be performed once or twice each year.
Some of these tasks might include:
- Snow removal operations
- Storm response and debris cleanup
- Flood response activities
- Wintertime sign replacement and repair
- Tree and vegetation removal
- Emergency traffic control and detour setup
Because these tasks occur infrequently, employees, especially new employees, may not be as familiar with the specific safety procedures, equipment, hazards, and traffic control requirements involved. Even experienced operators can overlook critical steps when performing a task they have not needed to perform in several months.
A snowstorm after a mild winter, a severe weather event requiring emergency response, or a flooded roadway can quickly place employees in situations where decisions must be made under pressure. Without a recent review of procedures, workers may unknowingly expose themselves, the public, or county property to unnecessary risk.
The solution is simple: conduct refresher training before the season or event occurs.
Brief, focused training sessions can remind employees of key operating procedures, personal protective equipment requirements, equipment inspections, communication protocols, and traffic control expectations. Refresher training is also an excellent opportunity to discuss lessons learned from previous incidents, review recent changes in policies or standards, and address concerns any employees may have.
Supervisors should consider developing annual safety reviews for seasonal activities, including snow and ice control, flood response, chainsaw safety, work zone traffic control, and wintertime sign maintenance operations. These discussions do not have to be lengthy, but they should be documented and conducted before employees are asked to perform the work.
At NIRMA, we have seen that proactive training and preparation can significantly reduce both employee injuries and liability exposures. Taking the time to revisit procedures before a seasonal task begins is far less costly than responding to an avoidable accident afterward.
As NIRMA’s Road Safety and Loss Prevention Specialist, I am available to assist counties with identifying roadway-related risks, reviewing traffic control practices, discussing work zone safety concerns, and providing guidance on loss prevention strategies. Whether your county is preparing for winter operations, reviewing emergency response procedures, or addressing other roadway safety challenges, I am happy to be a resource. You can contact me via email at kcpawling@nirma.info or phone at 402-310-4417.
The best time to prepare for an infrequent task is before the season arrives. A short refresher today may prevent a serious loss tomorrow.
