Grande Prairie

Valleyview

Grande Cache

  • 24/7 Service

  • Dispatch Phone: 780-532-1548
  • Toll Free: 1-866-532-1548

connect & disconnect trailers - safe work procedures

SAFE WORK PROCEDURE: 
102-SWP-TRAILER
​HAZARDS
  • Heat / cold
  • Cuts / laceration
  • Pinch / Crush
  • High Pressure
  • Debris
  • Steam
  • Biological Waste
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
Follow Country Pump Outs ERP Procedure
PPE REQUIRED
​PRE-START CHECKS
  1. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as listed above
  2. Ensure all personnel are trained and competent to perform the task at hand
  3. Ensure personnel are fit for duty
​SAFE WORK PROCEDURE - EQUIPMENT TRAILER
  1. Always use a spotter when required to back up.
  2. Park in position not to damage ground or property​
  3. Check the trailer and ensure you have the proper ball size on your hitch or if applicable, pintle hitch is lubricated and locks correctly
  4. Preform a pre-trip on the trailer
  5. When attaching a trailer, have someone guide your steering as you back your vehicle towards the trailer. If you do not have someone to guide you, you may have to get out of your vehicle several time to see where you are in proximity to the hitch
  6. Before backing your vehicle towards the trailer, use the hand crank to raise the level of the trailer’s hitch so that is several inches higher than the ball hitch on your back bumper.
  7. Try to position your vehicle’s ball hitch precisely underneath the trailer hitch. This is especially important if you are attaching a heavy trailer that you will not be able to reposition manually.
  8. Ensure that the trailer hitch is in the unlocked position. The handle will be positioned at a right angle to the neck of the trailer.
  9. Use the trailer’s hand crank to lower the trailer’s hitch so that it fits securely over your vehicle’s ball hitch. The ball should fit securely inside the rounded space at the end of the trailer’s neck.
  10. Once the trailer is attached, use the hand crank to lift the trailer’s wheel. Secure the wheel so that it is parallel to the trailer’s neck.
  11. Position the handle so that it is parallel to the trailer’s neck and in the locked position. Place the pin inside the handle ensure that the trailer will remain attacked to the ball hitch on your vehicle.
  12. Trailer chains are used as a safety precaution. If your trailer was to detach from the ball hitch for any reason, these chains would prevent your vehicle from completely separating from the trailer. Cross the chains over each other before attaching them to the bottom of your vehicle’s trailer hitch. Twist the chains to shorten their length and keep them from dragging. Insert the hooks from the bottom to ensure that they will stay attached.
  13. Manually apply brakes on trailer system to ensure they are functioning properly.
  14. Pull break away pin and do a “tug test” to ensure the system is operating properly.
  15. Attach the trailer’s electrical plug to your vehicle’s electrical system. Before driving with a trailer, test its lights, break lights, and turn signals. Never drive with a trailer that lacks a proper electrical system that meets all traffic safety regulations. 
​SAFE WORK PROCEDURE - TRACTOR TRAILER
Unhooking Trailer:
  1. Chock trailer wheels, both in front and back of trailer wheels
  2. Deflate trailer air suspension (if equipped)
  3. Crank down dolly’s
  4. Un-do airlines and electrical cord
  5. Release the 5th wheel pin
  6. Deflate tractor air suspension (if equipped)
  7. Carefully & slowly pull out from underneath trailer, leave tractor frame under trailer
  8. Apply tractor park brakes
  9. Get out of truck and make sure dolly’s aren’t sinking into ground
  10. If everything is OK with dolly’s: pull away

Hooking Trailer:
  1. Line up tractor fenders with sides of trailer to ensure trailer king pin is centered on 5th wheel
  2. Inflate tractor air suspension (if equipped)
  3. Back up to touch 5th wheel to trailer apron
  4. Apply tractor park brakes
  5. Get out of truck and hook-up air lines (only if trailer does not have spring brakes)
  6. Check height of trailer (should rest within bottom half of 5th wheel
  7. Look under trailer and make sure king pin is not broken or cracked and centered on the 5th wheel
  8. Get back into truck and release tractor park brakes (apply trailer hand brake only if trailer does not have spring brakes)
  9. Now back up under the trailer until 5th wheel engages
  10. Take truck out of reverse and put into low gear and conduct 1 tug test to ensure trailer hook-up
  11. Apply park brakes and then get back out to ensure the handle is in the locked position, no space between the 5th wheel and the king pin plate and check to see if the safety bar jaws on the 5th wheel are engaged
  12. Hook-up air lines and electrical cord (if not already hooked up)
  13. Crank up the dolly’s
  14. Inflate trailer air suspension (if equipped)
  15. Remove chock blocks
  16. Preform “tug test” to ensure proper connection
POST-JOB PROCEDURE
  1. Perform a visual inspection of job site, ensuring it is cleaned up. Look for any damage or signs of wear, reporting any issues to the appropriate personnel.
  2. Record any issues if necessary.​
  3. Complete a final walk around before leaving