BRAKES, LIGHTS, AND TIRES ARE MY MOST COMMON VIOLATIONS. HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY SMS RESULTS?
One way to improve your Safety Measurement System (SMS) results is through clean inspections over time. To do this, consider three approaches: training, teamwork, and metrics. SMS is a great tool for identifying the drivers (and mechanics) responsible for the most violations.
This approach is reactive, but if the rest of the fleet appears to be performing well, you can focus your immediate attention on those individuals needing improvement. However, before you schedule them for remedial training, look for the problem’s root cause. Is it the worker’s attitude? What if the problem is systemic, such as management pushing hot loads despite reported mechanical defects? Training cannot resolve these issues. However, if training is the solution, devise a program to help the driver learn the proper inspection techniques.