I try to be a careful motorcycle rider. I didn’t start riding until I was 49 years old and my first time riding on two wheels and a motor came at a Motorcycle Safety Foundation class.
From the outset, I learned many defensive driving rules to reduce the chances of meeting other motorists under unfortunate circumstances. Safety is paramount when you head down the road on a bike, and that is reinforced when you constantly see car drivers talking on cell phones, applying makeup and eating dinner while behind the wheel.
It was reading about motorcycle safety that introduced me to a term I think PROs would do well to remember every time they head out on a service route. Cycle riders often argue about the merits of ATGATT. This is the acronym for All The Gear, All The Time. It refers to the wisdom of wearing a helmet, gloves, body armor jacket, rugged pants and ankle-height boots every time you get on the bike.
Of course, if you’ve ever passed a parade of Harleys on the highway in the summer, you’ve seen that usually few riders observe the ATGATT rule. Many riders ignore safety gear all together, or say that it’s too restrictive or uncomfortable.
While I think All The Gear, All The Time is a worthy goal, I have to admit that many times a helmet and gloves are the only safety gear I use on my short commute to work. At minimum, I want to protect my head and hands from the unforgiving pavement should my bike go down.
A LESSON FOR PROS
So what does my riding and the concept of ATGATT have to do with portable restroom service? I think plenty, if operators aren’t using basic recommended safety gear for pumping waste and working with powerful cleaning chemicals.
Over the years, I’ve heard horror stories from PROs about what happens when workers don’t wear the appropriate gear. Going out on photo shoots, I have also witnessed restroom technicians who either never knew they should wear gloves and goggles on the job or just didn’t care to take any precautions.
While it seems like the PRO’s job can be routine, and that there’s little risk of an accident if you pay attention to what you’re doing, dangerous situations can and do happen. You never know when you’ll run into problems.
One story from a PRO often comes to mind, and I recall the scary tale every time I’m in the workshop and neglect to look for my safety goggles. The contractor told me about the time he was horsing around a 55-gallon drum of full-strength cleaning solution in the warehouse. In a fluke situation, the drum tipped and splashed chemicals over him, hitting him in the eyes. I cringe whenever I recall this story. The contractor suffered severe eye injuries, but eventually recovered his full sight. He’s now careful to keep his goggles handy and always wears them when moving or using chemical products.
For PROs, I look at gloves like I view a helmet on a motorcycle rider. There’s no excuse not to be wearing them every time you leave the truck to clean a restroom. I have seen a number of contractors pump restrooms and septic tanks without hand protection. These workers routinely risk exposure to pathogens in human waste or chemicals in other sludges. For the relatively low cost and ease of use of good rubber gloves, I can’t understand why it wouldn’t be automatic to grab a pair when jumping out of the cab and grabbing a hose.
TAKE CARE OF WORKERS
Depending on the work you do from day to day, there may be other safety gear you should be using. Perhaps long pants, steel-toed shoes and a work helmet are necessary if you visit construction sites. If your truck doesn’t already have a first-aid kit, maybe you should stock a tote with bandages, eyewash and other items that would come in handy in emergency situations.
I like what one company owner said to me about his commitment to safety when his employees were working with high-powered waterjetters, pumping sludge and going into confined-space situations. He said, “My job is to make sure these guys make it home to their families safe and sound every night. That’s the most important thing I can do for my guys.’’
We could all learn something from that business owner’s attitude about safety. And even though making the effort can seem inconvenient or make working conditions a little less comfortable, we should all remember ATGATT and work toward that ultimate safety goal every time we go on the job.
