Just a couple of examples that have happened around UPS over the last few weeks. This was taken from www.denverbrown.com web site.

Another Fatal Accident

We had fatal accident last month in our district when a feeder driver from Trinidad pulled out in front of truck carrying a full load of rocks. The UPS driver was not wearing his seat belt.
This accident comes on the bumper of another accident, this one not in our district, where a package car driver was killed. Again, no seat belt. Now the rumor is going around that the company is going to start terminating anyone caught not wearing their seat belt.
The question for Union people is: How should we react? Should the Union fight for a driver's right to violate the common sense rule of wearing a seat belt? You know, not only does the company have to attend these tragic funerals, but the Union will be attending also. There is nothing more heart wrenching then going to the funeral of co-worker who could have been saved if they had just been wearing a seat belt.
So what would you do if you were a Steward and the company started terminating people who didn't wear their seat belts? Would you go around rattling your sabres and saying that they can't do that? Would you say it's unfair? You know the possible scenario is that you could save someone's job today and they get killed tomorrow.
I think what I would do is I would begin a little campaign of my own to touch base with every driver in my group over the next few weeks and talk to them about seat belts. And then if someone did get fired, I'd argue that it should be reduced to a warning letter and go through the three step disciplinary process.
I think every driver would become a dedicated seat belt user if they knew management was watching them and they could get fired if they didn't start wearing their seat belt. If someone isn't smart enough to change their behavior when facing progressive discipline, then maybe they aren't really smart enough to be a UPS driver at all.

 

Just my opinion, but I would think that if the realization that you might be killed isn't enough of a motivating factor to get a driver to wear their seatbelt, then I seriously doubt that threatening to fire them would do the job. Definitely a 3 strikes, you're out plan wouldn't work either.

Just a thought.

 

Brown

This is the problem that I have with unions. Where does the union have the right to tell a company how to run it's business.

Most companies I know have rules that are first offense terminating if you are found to have broken the rule, two that come to mind are failing to report an accident and unauthorized passenger.

If the company wants failing to wear a seatbelt or talking on the cell phone to be first offense termination then that is their business.

I worked for the non-union LTL company Central Freight Lines in Houston and they had the seatbelt and phone as first offense rules and we never had a driver terminated for it.

WHY: we knew that the company was serious about it and we wore the GD seabelts and did not use the cell phone or nextels while driving.

If some moron is not cabable of following such simple rules then are they safe and looking out for their's and fellow workers safety!!!!

These rules are about safety and as you talked about the fatilities there is no second chances when things go badly wrong and why should the company give a second chance to a rule breaker on safety sensitive issues. You have talked about in the past about how you don't have to take out an unsafe truck right.....it's not a one way street where you get to pick which rules to follow.

 

i once saw a sign that read, high voltage lines.... do not climb, highvoltage can kill.....

a few yrs later i saw a new sign, high voltage kills, stay off. not only will you be killed but also charged $3000....

supprizingly enough at a local ts i asked a guy about it. apparently people use to be stupid and took no notice to the voltage kills, but they noticed the dollar signs..

a stiff fine like that would most definatly make u wear a belt.

 

If someone can't follow a simple rule like not wearing a seatbelt, they should be fired on the first occurence. I can't understand why someone won't wear something that can save their life.

 

I got in the habit of wearing seatbelts and it's a automatic thing that I don't even think about.

When I first started driving trucks we had Lap Belts and with the short wheelbases you'd be black and Blue around the waist. :P

 

I got into an accident many years ago when seatbelts were not the law and I went face first into the steering column, not a pleasant way to spend the weekend.

After spending many years in a tow truck, I cant understand why people refuse to wear a seatbelt or a motorcycle helmet for that matter.

But we live in a dumber society and if you want proof...
Look on the restroom walls. We now need little signs to remind you to WASH YOUR HANDS after taking a dump. :roll:

 

precisely the way to go. :wink:

once upon a time, i was against it, but only because I think we already have too many laws. remember when it first came about? it was an offense that you couldn't be pulled over for. it was a "secondary" offense. then they made it an offense by which you could be pulled over. too many laws. :wink:

now it's more of second nature thing. :wink:

 

We're still having this disucssion? IMO, anyone that dies because they didn't wear a seatbelt is just mother nature cleaning up the idiots.

 

I have never thought we should legislate behavior, such as wearing seat belts. There have been instances where wearing them has resulted in people getting killed. There have been situations where people have also been killed where the belts might have saved their lives. I just don't think it is the place to put laws on the books about something which should be a personal decision. I think it is more about raising tax revenue than safety, as far as the government and laws are concerned.