The Mechanical Contractors Association of America has
published "Distracted Driving," the final release in its 2011 safety bulletin
series.
The release corresponds with National Safety Month and
the National Safety Council’s “On the phone, off the road” campaign June 26-30.
“While distracted driving has always been a concern in
the construction industry, the additions of text messaging by cell phone and smart
phone technology, with its ready access to the Internet and social networking,
has made distracted driving much more dangerous,” said Tom Skaggs, chairman of
MCAA’s Safety and Health Committee, and vice president of safety at Murphy Co. “More
than 5,400 people died in crashes linked to distracted driving, and thousands
more were injured in those crashes.”
The bulletin lists common in-car distractions, such as
radios and global positioning systems, and how contractors can use them safely.
“Distracted driving has become such a problem that OSHA
(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has established an initiative to attack distracted driving issues,” said MCAA
Director of Safety and Health Pete Chaney. “The agency is partnering with
government and industry, as well as the general public, to provide key
information and tools to assist in combating distracted driving hazards.”
The bulletin is here.
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