Safety Information and Updates

Safety as a Culture at Dennis K Burke

Hi guys - in case you missed it, dont forget to check out Ed's article in the May edition of Oil & Energy Magazine on Safety as a Culture in your organization. We have a strong belief in safety being the number one priority at all times and have worked really hard to create a Safety Culture and Program that not only benefits our company and keeps insurances costs lower but allows Safe Drivers to personally benefit from a focus on safety through compensation and bonuses tied to safer performance. Its worth thinking about for your organization as well.

you can read the article in PDF Here or read the Oil & Energy online magazine here

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DKB Tank Truck Safety Training with West Springfield FD

This month Matt spent some time with the guys at the West Springfield Fire Department conducting tanker safety training. The focus of training is getting firefighters familiar with all the wiring and emergency shutoff setups in new tank trucks so that in the event of a rollover or emergency, they can respond more easily. Obviously we have seen incidents in the past where hazmat loads have caused a lot of damage - Matt's goal is to make it a lot easier for Firefighters to respond, because they are familiar with the workings of the truck, so we can avoid catastrophes.

We loved spending time with the West Springfield Fire Department, a group of well trained professionals, they were an absolute pleasure to spend time with.

You can check out a write up by the Springfield Republican on the training at masslive.com - click here to go directly to the article 

 

Fire fighter observing a lecture from a Dennis K. Burke driver

(Photo by John Suchocki: The Republican)

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CDL questions in Massachusetts & Social Medias role in hiring drivers

The crash on route 79 in Fall River last Sunday has raised a lot of questions about how CDL licenses are obtained in Massachusetts, and how companies can go about hiring safe, qualified CDL drivers to avoid catastrophes like we saw in Fall River. The driver of the truck involved had several violations on his driving record, as well as a drug distribution charge that temporarily suspended his license in the past. Obviously, certain types of violations ought to carry more weight than others, but incidents like this crash serve to highlight issues surrounding safety policy, and the importance of taking an overall assessment of a candidate for a drivers position. 

As I discuss in the article in the Taunton Gazette last week, most companies now do background checks on potential drivers, beyond the anticipated driving record check. At Dennis K Burke, we look at a candidates 10 year driving history for any infractions that would indicate habitual unsafe driving. Its also important to check references listed on applications, for any position, but especially a CDL driver. Any gaps in employment should be evaluated as well, to ensure a gap in work history was not due to a suspension or infraction as was the case with the driver involved in the Fall River accident.

(You can Read the Story in the Taunton Gazette here - it does a really great job explaining a lot of the rules and regulations related to CDLs in Massachusetts)

A new approach we also use, in keeping up with the changing ways people share and interact now is checking social media. Generally, social media accounts are harmless, fun ways for people to stay in touch but on occassion they can raise a red flag, much the way they would for a prospective university, job, etc. Its easy to overlook social media as a valuable tool to learn more about an applicant, but I think doing so is a mistake. People live their lives online now, for better or for worse, and by skipping out on social media, you skip out on an easy avenue to get a general feel for who someone is and how they will fit with your organization. Its free, it takes 5 minutes - why not give it a shot?

Speaking of Social Media - you can follow us at @DennisKBurkeInc on Twitter, or http://www.facebook.com/DennisKBurkeInc  - We'd love to hear your feedback, comments and insights!



 

 

 

 

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Burke trains firefighters in Holyoke

Matt Manoli, Dennis K Burke's Safety Director, hit the road again for more Firefighter Training on Tankers. The goal of the free training, which Matt has done at several Fire Departments throughout Massachusetts, is to provide firefighters an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the trucks and their shut offs and safety features in a non-emergency situation. Each of the firefighters has a chance to climb in and on the truck, turn on release valves, and learn about changes in safety technology.

Here's some photos of the Holyoke training session:

Group of fire fighters around a Dennis K. Burke truck recieving training   Group of fire fighters around a Dennis K. Burke truck recieving training  Fire fighter working the controls of a refueling truck      

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Melrose Firefighters Learn about Fuel Truck Safety Features

MELROSE FREE PRESS

Melrose Firefighters Learn About Fuel Truck Safety Features

by Andy Frongillo

 

MELROSE – Earlier this month, Melrose firefighters were brought up-to-date with the latest fuel tank and trailer safety technology.

At the request of Melrose Fire Department, Dennis K. Burke, Inc. brought their company’s safety team to the Main Street firehouse to help firemen learn more about fuel truck safety. The Chelsea-based fuel distributor offered presentation on three days to accommodate the shifts and schedules of the firemen. Burke recently offered similar programs to the Revere, Cambridge and Norwood Fire Departments.

When the Burke Safety Team visits with one of the local Fire Departments, they take along a fuel trailer for firefighters to get a hands-on tour of current trailer technology.

“For many of these guys, it’s the first opportunity to check out these vehicles in a non-emergency situation,” notes Burke Safety Director Matt Manoli. “We try to share our drivers’ experiences. We address some of the hazards that drivers might encounter while making deliveries or just traveling through the city.”

There were great discussions regarding placarding, responding to hazards, and learning about a trailer’s emergency shut-off mechanisms. Emphasizing that it was a hands-on demonstration, Manoli then pointed to the top of the trailer and urged the firemen to climb up and look inside the tank compartments, ask questions and try to get familiar with the vehicle’s emergency safety features.

 “For 50 years, our focus has been on delivering fuel safely,” adds Manoli, “we’re really proud of the reputation we’ve earned over the years, and this additional role that we can play in our community.”

  

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Safe Driving - Dennis K Burke's Distracted Driving Policy

dennis k burke, burke oil logo

On May 24, 2010, Dennis K. Burke, Inc. will adopt a policy that will allow our drivers to be safer at work and further set us apart from many in our industry.

 Distracted driving is quickly becoming an epidemic in our society and the statistics showing the results should make all of us pause and realize the importance of this topic in both our work and personal lives.  

  • According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, in 2008 nearly 6,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver and more than half a million were injured.  
  • While we would never consider driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, talking on a cell phone while driving extends a driver’s reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.

Stop and re-read those two bullets… those are staggering statistics. Sadly our brains are often too stubborn to allow us to learn from statistics until we are affected by them personally.

Dennis K. Burke, Inc. is committed to providing the safest possible environment for its employees and the public. As such, it is the policy of Dennis K. Burke, Inc. that no employee will use any type of handheld electronic device while operating a company vehicle or while driving their personal vehicle on company business. This includes, but is not limited to: cell phones, CB radios, laptop computers, and GPS systems. While we realize the large role that these devices play in our lives on a daily basis and the inconveniences and inefficiencies eliminating their use while driving may cause, we are not willing to sacrifice safety.  While we are confident that legislation to this end will follow soon, until such time Dennis K. Burke will be on the forefront leading the way.

Attached is the formal policy as well as a few bullets on how we intend on modifying our business practices to accomplish this change in policy. Please read and be prepared to put in place on May 24, 2010. We also urge you to talk your families and to those who are important in your lives about this serious issue. Thanks in advance for your cooperation and your daily efforts towards keeping our roads safe!


Changes to procedure once policy is in place

  1. You are still required to call in after completion of each load. You are to call base prior to leaving the site after each load if single stop or at the conclusion of a multi-stop run.
  2.  If you are unable to get thru on either of the 2 base phones and nobody has returned your call within  10 minutes from the time of your first call, you are to then contact the Dispatch Hotline at 617.304.1906 or 181*25103*70. This phone is not to call dispatch unless you have been sitting for 10 minutes or longer
  3. If dispatch needs to contact you and you are driving, they will call from the Dispatch Hotline phone. This phone will be set-up on your phone with a special ring tone. If you hear this ring tone while driving, it means dispatch needs to talk to you immediately. You are then to SAFELY find a SAFE location to pull over. Do not pull over into the breakdown lane on the highway. Get off at an exit and find a safe spot to pull the truck over and call the base phones back.
  4. In the event of a personal emergency call from home, we recommend you set up your phones with a special ring tone as with the dispatch hotline. If this call is received, you are then to SAFELY find a SAFE location to pull over and return the call.

 

 

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