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NEWS | Oct. 24, 2024

Fall and winter safety campaign kicks off during special gear handout at shipyard gates

By Max Maxfield, PSNS & IMF Public Affairs

The “Can You See Me Now?” fall and winter safety campaign officially kicked off at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility Oct. 17, with the giveaway of safety gear such as flashlights, reflective armbands and blinking marker lights for workers as they entered the shipyard.

PSNS & IMF senior leaders, union leaders and safety advocates handed out safety items to workers coming in the gates for both day and swing shifts. For workers who want safety gear, but weren't able to receive any, extras items are available in the Code 900S office in Building 435, Room 309.

Additional safety gear handouts are scheduled for Nov. 21 and Dec. 18.

As the days get shorter and the rainy weather increases, employees are reminded to be extra vigilant when walking and driving, to stay safe. Before stepping outside or getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, here are a few safety tips to remember:

Staying safe while walking:

Walk on sidewalks if they are available. If sidewalks are not available, then walk on the side of the road facing traffic. Cross the street at marked crosswalks or intersections, and look left, right, and left again before crossing the roadway. In addition to intersections, driveways are another place where pedestrians can expect to encounter drivers or bicyclists exiting or entering.

Try to stay in well-lit areas where you are more visible to drivers, and make sure you are visible when there isn’t much light. Carry a flashlight or wear reflective materials to see where you are going and allow drivers to see you.

Always obey traffic signals, and stop at the curb to signal drivers that you intend to cross. Make eye contact with a driver who is stopped before stepping into the road. You may think they see you, but they may not if there are distractions or you aren’t visible due to lighting or weather conditions, especially at night with rain or wet streets.

Don't take alcohol risks with walking, just as you would not while driving. Take the bus, a rideshare, a cab or have a friend drive you home. Beware of the effects and interactions of prescription and non-prescription medications and drugs, too.

Don’t wear headphones and don’t walk with distractions like a phone. Use of portable headphones, earphones, or other listening devices while operating a motor vehicle or walking on streets at PSNS & IMF is prohibited.

Tips for drivers:

Be watchful for pedestrians at all times. Be extra vigilant when turning and entering crosswalks. Be especially careful when backing out of driveways, as hedges and buildings may obstruct your view. Back-up cameras and mirrors are not as effective as direct line of site out a windshield.

Don’t drive while impaired or sleep deprived. Lack of sleep as well as alcohol and other substances reduce your ability to see pedestrians, decide what to do, and react in time.

Follow the speed limit at all times, and use extra caution in bad weather conditions and poorly lit areas.

A driver trying to save a few seconds by speeding could end up taking a life. Pedestrians hit by drivers going more than 30 mph face not only injury, but a 45 percent chance of not making it home. Reduce your speed near pedestrians to help ensure everyone's safety.

Many car headlight systems have been found to provide relatively poor performance in studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Another study by AAA and the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center found that more than 80 percent of vehicles on the road have low-beam headlights that don’t provide adequate illumination for stopping distance at speeds more than 40 mph.

For more information, visit the National Highway and Traffic Administration website at www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/ transportationsafety/pedestrian_safety/ index.html.