april2021 - 27

" One of the first
steps of our
onboarding process
is to go through our
employee safety
handbook. "
Chuck Pagesy, director of safety for
Penske Transportation Solutions

Topics are based on specific safety-related issues
Penske repair facilities have been experiencing.
" We use actual Penske employees and shops to
create the posters, " Pagesy points out. A training
guide is also developed to help each branch maintenance supervisor conduct training on whatever
topic the poster is about.
In addition to monthly poster-based training,
Penske also emphasizes daily shift huddles. Each
Penske repair facility is given a weekly agenda with
daily training topics. Each shift must complete the
daily training. Each branch maintenance supervisor is responsible for making sure the training
is delivered.
" This is a great way to look at emerging trends
and common issues our repair shops are having, "
Pagesy says. " It's also a great way to keep common
issues at the forefront, such as how to handle batteries. The key is to keep it at the forefront, and you do
that by talking about safety every day. "
Another reason to keep safety training at the
forefront is to stay on top of changes in the commercial vehicle industry.
" Alternative fuel vehicles like electric and CNG
continue to evolve, " says Chris Hough, vice president of maintenance services for Penske Truck
Leasing. " Anytime we introduce new technology
to our repair teams, there is always a safety side to
the repair procedure training, including any unique
PPE they need to use. Anytime you bring something
new into the fold, you want to make sure you have
procedures written that address any safety issues.
Here at Penske, the maintenance department coordinates with the safety department to make sure
we are all in agreement. "

COVID and cleaning

COVID-19 is another example of something " new "
that fleet maintenance facilities have had to adapt
to. Many continue to follow the same procedures
and protocols put in place one year ago.
TravelCenters of America's Hoekzema says their
repair facilities frequently disinfect common touch
points using best-in-class chemicals. " We also
continue to follow CDC recommendations including mask wearing, increased hand washing, and
social distancing, " Hoekzema adds.
CDC guidelines stress proper handwashing and
cleaning using either soap and water or gel/liquid
hand sanitizers.

" Fleets can protect technicians with bulk hand
sanitizer or hand washing stations positioned at
doorways, in breakrooms, and in other high-traffic areas, " says Chris Iuzzolino, director of product operations at New Pig, a provider of industrial
cleaning products, safety supplies, and PPE. " These
stations should be checked frequently to ensure
they are properly stocked. To help reinforce proper
hand cleaning, place wall signs and floor stickers
in strategic locations. "
Hand cleaning is only one element of functioning safely in the post-COVID world. Iuzzolino says
surface cleaning is another vital protocol for technicians to continue following.
" EPA List-N sanitizers are an important key
in helping defeat COVID and other pathogens, "
Iuzzolino explains. " These sanitizers can be chosen
based on the surface type and the method used to
clean that surface. Pre-moistened wipes that contain
the sanitizer are a great way to clean a surface
because they are more efficient than liquid chemicals and wipes. That said, dry wipes in self-contained
buckets or canisters allow the user to add the cleaning agent of choice, helping reduce waste by reusing
and refilling the bucket or canister. "
Microfiber towels are ideal because they can be
reused over and over simply by laundering them.
" Some microfiber towels are even impregnated with
silver fibers to help reduce pathogen growth on the
towel during reuse, " Iuzzolino points out.
Repair facilities are also having to make sure
vehicles are sanitized after being serviced.
According to Iuzzolino, ultra-low volume disinfectant foggers are being used to quickly and effectively sanitize the entire inside of a vehicle. " They
create a fog or mist of a sanitizing chemical that
coats surfaces and are much more efficient than
trying to wipe down all surfaces inside of a vehicle, "
Iuzzolino says.

Working around high voltage

With hybrid and full-electric vehicles making their
way to the marketplace, high-voltage battery packs
and connectors are presenting additional safety
risks for technicians.
According to Homer Hogg, director of technical
service for TravelCenters of America, the most
important thing to remember when working on a
high-voltage system is to be certain that the system
is de-energized. " Technicians must validate that the
system is free of voltage before they start working
on it, " Hogg emphasizes.
The proper PPE is also essential when working
around high voltage. " PPE must meet the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E requirements for safe work practices, " Hogg points out.
" Understanding and complying with these standards will help fleets keep their employees safe
and in compliance with OSHA 1920 Subpart S and
1926 Subpart K. "
As Hogg points out, necessary pieces of PPE
include a face shield with a hard hat, and arc flash
protection for the face and eyes. Technicians also
need a flash-protection coat that meets the required
arc protection value. Lastly, technicians need electric safety gloves with over-glove protectors.
According to Ryder's Olson, a technician needs
specially insulated gloves that prevent the flow of

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