Ground Guiding

Ground Guiding
Vehicles
Ground guiding is probably the most
important job/assignment that there
is on the project.

You become responsible for the

safety and wellbeing of employees
and property.
Ground Guiding
Ground guiding is not easy, especially after
a hard days work or evening meal.

About 70 percent of the time we have

another person in the vehicle with us.
Have them get out and ground guide.
If you do not have a rider then stop and ask
somebody.

This simple act can make a big difference in

your day.
You cannot ground guide from the cab.
 Responsibilities
All employees are responsible for ground guiding.

It takes a constant effort.

You have eyes in back of your head. (They are

called Ground Guides)

Ground Guides must be familiar with the area.

New hires or newly transferred personnel must know

the ropes prior to being tasked as ground guides.
Pair New Hires up with seasoned veterans.
Responsibilities ???

Who is a ground guide?

You are.
Or the nearest person.
We are obligated.
There is no mission so important that you
cannot stop what you are doing to ground
guide.
So if somebody asks you to ground guide,
say YES.
 Responsibilities
If a section requires forklift support, then the section asking
for support must supply ground guides.

Truck Drives are to ground guide when loading and off

loading vehicles

The forklift operator cannot ground guide his own vehicle.

The task might require the employment of two ground guides.

(Only one can guide the operator/driver)

Barriers, cones, and caution/danger tape may be required and

is a good added measure.

The idea is to perform a mental TSTI, identify hazards, and

place a barrier between vehicles, persons, or property.
The object is to minimize mishap occurrence.
Ground Guides
Help W
See through A

Blinds spots L

Around corners L
Dark hours S
 Dark Hours and Special
Jobs
Dark Hours
Flash lights
Reflector tape
Glow in the
dark/Flashing Lights

Special Jobs may require

Barriers /
Cones/ Causing
Tape
Ground Guides MUSTbe
Alert
Mature (NO HORSEPLAY) !!!!!!!
Knowledgeable in hand and arm
signals
Familiar with work areas
Wear Proper PPE. (Day or Night)
Hard Hats Protective eyewear
Reflective vest Gloves, If required
BE A PART OF THE TSTI
BE A PART OF

THE
TSTI
Everyone has
something to
contribute.
TSTI
Difficult tasks require added
measures

Walk the area

Look for clearance hazards

Over hanging lines Just to name
Stand pipes a few
Below and above ground tanks
Below Ground Septic Tanks

Drivers
first day
on the
route.
Ground
Guides
first day
on the
job.
 A combination of barriers can stop
unauthorized personnel and vehicles from
entering.
 You Cannot
Perform a mission
blinded.
Assess the situation.

Discuss the HAZARDS with ground guides:

Prior to the mission.
Before each job, and when operators and
ground guides change shifts.
(During Operations). Things change in
midstream.
Hand and harm signals must be
deliberate/strong.>>>>>>> They are a form of
communicating without voice.
Practice and Dry Runs
Ground guiding is just like riding a
bike. Once learned you never forget.
However you can become rusty so you
have to practice.

It is a good idea to conduct dry runs

with the operator.
(This should be a part of the TSTI)
Distractions
Many mishaps occur when drivers are
distracted.

Many have occurred when ground guides

were available but not employed.

Ground Guides should not talk to others.

They should maintain focus on the mission.
Saying Hi to a friend could prove hazardous.
Blind Spots/Danger Zones
Blind Spots

Areas where there is loss of site or

vision.

Around Corners

Behind objects/pallets/vehicles

Dark areas
Some blind spots are caused by equipment
that is mandatory for the Job.
Others are caused by the design of the
equipment.
All Equipment has blind spots
You cannot see the Drivers or Ground Guides face
he cannot see you.
Place ground guides ahead of blind
spots to control oncoming vehicular
and foot traffic.
Ground Guides should watch out for
unauthorized persons on scene.
 1 2 3

Larger vehicles require more than one

ground guide. Specialized vehicles may
require three
Fire Fighting or Large Equipment
Position them so they can view all
sides of the vehicle.

Two in the front and one to the rear.

Two in the front for maneuvering
forward.
Two to the rear when maneuvering to
the rear.
 Rearview and side Mirrors give a
small view of an area, so turn your
head or get out of the vehicle when
in doubt.
Optimum field of vision

Place Ground Guides in areas where you can

see them best.
 Danger Zones
Areas where there is lost of site or vision.
Opposite areas of equipment that may come in
contact with objects when the operator is turning.
Stop and reposition Ground Guides.

All vehicles/equipment swing to one side when

making turns. The bigger, the further they swing.

Keep Them Out Of Harms Way

BLIND SPOT AND DANGER ZONE
BLIND SPOT AND DANGER ZONE
DANGER ZONE
DANGER ZONE
DANGER ZONES

GROUND GUIDES
Stop the vehicle and reposition
yourself.
Notice the maintenance worker between the door
and the door well.
Open doors on vehicles can put the squeeze on
you.
 The closer the ground guide is to the
vehicle, the closer he/she is to a Danger
Zone
 Loads can fall from high places

Keep Ground Guides out of harms way

CLEARANCES
AREA A BIT
TOO SMALL
FOR THE
FORKLIFT
LOW
HANGING
LINES

GOOD
CATCH
BY THE
GROUND
GUIDE
Walk your area, conduct a TSTI and check
for CLEARANCES
 Do not squeeze through, move vehicles
blocking your path or take a different route.
Slow down, Take your time and let
Ground Guides do their job.
Tight areas and turns may require that the driver
performs a three point maneuver. This will allow
more clearance for the vehicle.
Operations in tight areas require oncoming traffic
to be halted at a distance.
This will allow bigger vehicles adequate room to
maneuver.
Even 2 or 3 feet may not be enough room
for clearance.
HAND AND ARM SIGNALS
Empty Hands
Ground Guiding requires empty hands
Except if your are conducting night
operations. (Flash Lights)
So:
Put down you coffee cup, coke can or water
bottle
Cigarettes: Ever hear the term

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

Hand And Arm Signals
Stand erect
Visible to the driver/operator
Give strong and deliberate signals

Palms toward you means come

to me.
Palms away from you means go
way from me.
BACK OR MOVE FORWARD
TURN RIGHT OR LEFT
TURN RIGHT OR LEFT
Distance

You lie, the

fish was not
that big.
This shows a
driver how
far he/she is
from a
structure or
obstacle
 If you see
someone on the
side of the road
doing this, it does
not mean that he
has four hands.

IT MEANS
SLOW
DOWN.
Moe,
Larry,
Cheese.

NO
Turn
on/off
your lights
This means, if you
are not a good
little ground
guide, we will cut
of your head off.

No, This
means shut off
you engine.
STOP
Path and Direction
Do not stand in the path of the direction
of equipment.

BAD
PLACE
TO BE
NEVER WALK BACKWARDS
 STOP THE VEHILCE

TURN AROUND
AND WALK
STOP AT A DANGER
FREE AREA
 LINE OF SITE

TURN AROUND AND

GROUND GUIDE
GROUND GUIDING A VEHICLE
IS NEVER A ONE PART
MANEUVER.
IT MUST TAKE AS MANY
STEPS AS NECESSARY TO
MAKE IT SAFE.
The extra eyes and ears that ground guides provide
ensures the safety and wellbeing for all employees.
THE END
QUESTIONS
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