Two years ago, 50-year-old Alfonso Tapia of Salinas Valley was killed while delivering a load of topsoil, when the brakes failed on the truck he was driving. Tapia's employer, Jeffrey Nilsen, has now been sentenced to six months in prison and $150,000 in fines and penalties, because Nilsen was told that the brakes on the truck were malfunctioning, but took no action to repair them.

Don't let poor vehicle maintenance cause injuries and deaths in your workplace. Federal OSHA recommends that all company-owned vehicles be inspected at the beginning of each shift, to assure that they are in safe operating condition and free of apparent damage that could lead to an accident. All defects must be corrected before the vehicle is placed in service.

Inspect the following parts, equipment, and accessories:

• Service brakes, including trailer brake connections
• Parking system (hand brake)
• Emergency stopping system (emergency brake)
• Tires
• Coupling devices
• Seat belts
• Horn
• Steering mechanism
• Operating controls
• Safety devices (e.g. reverse signal alarm, rollover protective structure (ROPS), etc.)
• Additional items if necessary:
• Lights
• Reflectors
• Defrosters
• Windshield wipers
• Fire extinguishers

Additional Resources:

Federal OSHA Construction eTool on vehicle hazards

Federal OSHA Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes

California Driver Handbook

COCA's "Safe Driving Checklist" (Requires subscription or trial)

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