Know the NO Zone

Creating a Safer Environment for Crews on Site

By Douglas Smith, Regional Health & Safety Manager

It’s the height of construction season, and as contractors work to manage ongoing project demands on short timelines, they must also continue to make safety a priority. Your employees’ understanding of pitfalls and risks, as well as how to create a safer environment, is essential. From providing employees shade and hydration in warmer weather to ensuring everyone is using his or her safety gear properly, there are a variety of ways to keep work crews safe.

One area that needs close attention is knowing the “No Zone.” The No Zone refers to blind spots that surround large commercial vehicles, like concrete mixers and cement tankers, that create high-risk situations. These spots are out of the operator’s view and are unique to each type of vehicle.

In a concrete mixer, the No Zone creates particularly dangerous situations at the back and passenger side of the vehicle. In these areas, the blind spots are much larger, causing the driver to have a reduced or completely obscured view of pedestrian traffic. To put this into perspective, a driver of a cement mixer is unable to clearly see objects or people at ground level for 44 feet to the rear of the vehicle and for 29 feet to the right of the passenger side door.

Education and open dialogue are the best approaches for addressing these challenges. When crews are pushing to meet deadlines and schedules, they are more likely to not identify risks, particularly around the No Zone. Maintaining daily toolbox talks and pre-job risk assessments can help crews focus on the task at hand and better assess and control these hazards. An important reminder for customers to give their crews during these talks is that they should never control or operate any part of our company trucks, except when a driver has given specific authorization. Even in these circumstances, it’s important for crews to follow the driver’s careful instructions.

High-Risk Jobsite Areas

Not all areas of a jobsite are equal – some, such as the No Zone and the operation of trucks, create more hazardous situations than others. Below are a few precautions drivers and construction crews can take when it comes to protecting against high-risk events.

• On the move – Vehicle operators should be particularly careful when entering and exiting jobsites and be aware of traffic controls in place. As drivers leave the site, workers should assist them with directions and obstructions, remembering the blind spots that surround the truck.
• Danger of pumps – Workers must stay clear of the area around pumps, which can be hazardous, especially when there is not enough room for trucks to back into these areas.
• In reverse – Workers should remain alert to trucks backing up and listen for back-up alarms signaling they need to move. Always remember there is a particularly large blind spot behind these vehicles, and workers should not assume an operator can see them.

Reinforcing Guidelines

While not all worksites are the same, there are few tips you can provide to all employees to maintain a safer environment around the No Zone:

1. Always maintain communication with vehicle drivers throughout the entire course of their presence on site.
2. Do not pass nearby vehicles without making direct eye contact with the operator.
3. Keep clear of areas that vehicle operators may not be able to see and be aware of the different blind spots that can occur for each vehicle type.
4. Always wait for vehicles to stop moving before proceeding in your work.
5. Do not touch, operate or climb on trucks as the operator may not see you – this work should be left to the vehicle operator who can make adjustments as needed.
6. Keep your eyes open for those who may not be aware of these hazards and provide guidance as needed.

During the peak construction season, fatigue can start to set in, and an employee’s focus can falter. Everyone on a construction site needs to maintain their attention to detail. Crew leaders, foremen and superintendents can help by reinforcing No Zone guidelines.