According to the National Safety Council, backing accidents cause 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries per year. All too often, unnecessary backing is responsible for injuries or property damage incidents. It is important to consider the hazards of backing and what can be done to mitigate these hazards.
Hazards of Backing: With increased blind spots, backing leaves drivers and operators at more risk for error resulting in damage or injury.
Best practices and safeguards to mitigate the hazards of backing: eliminate backing as much as possible, look for pull-through parking, complete a walk around of your vehicle before backing. Install backup cameras on equipment and vehicles. Use a spotter when appropriate. Mark fixed objects so they are more visible to those operating a motor vehicle. Place protective barricades to protect critical equipment from struck by incidents.
Backing can almost always be eliminated or greatly reduced when proper preplanning is used. Elimination should always be the first choice
Discussion point: Are we doing a lot of unnecessary backing during our work tasks? before relying on less effective safeguards such as backup cameras or a spotter?