The most common equipment defects are related to tires, wheels, brakes, and coupling devices. Together, they make up around 12% of all heavy machinery accidents. When an accident occurs, there is usually a loss of productivity, downtime, repairs, or even injury..

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance issued a report based on brake violations conducted in a single day on April 25th that stated:

  • 11,531 inspections were conducted in Canada and the USA
  • 1,595 trucks were pulled out of service for brake violations
  • 14.3% had ABS violations.

A proper and detailed inspection of the vehicle before its use will detect any defects. The Highway Safety Act stipulates that heavy-duty equipment needs a review every 24 hours.

What Is a Circle Check?

A circle check is a visual inspection, and requires a physical inspection of the vehicle, be it a truck, trailer, forklift, bulldozer, car, etc. As its name would suggest, the circle check requires the inspector to go around the vehicle and look and check for any signs of risk, damage, or malfunction. 

The operation should become an automatic and implicit element of your safety procedure. It is to be performed every time a vehicle or piece of heavy equipment will be put to use at the beginning of the day. Immediately report any problems or inconsistencies to the supervisor. Before the vehicle is used, the issues must be resolved.  

The purpose of one such circle check is to make sure that all principal components of the vehicle are in proper order and good working condition. It will also ensure that both the owner and the operator are informed about the situation and what repairs are needed. Lastly, this daily inspection will guarantee that there are no vehicles with significant problems operating on the road, keeping both operators and other civilians safe. 

Circle Check Administrative Tips

It is important to remember that ALL road vehicles used for business / commercial and not just road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg/10,000 lbs or more are required to conduct regular circle checks. These include vehicles such as cement mixers, tank trucks, fire trucks, ambulances, snow removal trucks, vans, pickup trucks, cars, trailers, semi-trailers, road tractors, equipment transport vehicles, buses, tow trucks, etc. The rule also applies to two or more vehicles hitched together and where at least one has a GVWR of 4,500 kg or above. 

All of these vehicles are subject to this inspection, meaning that no driver can get behind the wheel before a circle check is complete. This inspection is usually carried out by the driver or another person designated by the driver. Whatever the case, the vehicle operator will be held accountable. 

If the inspection is carried out by a different person, the operator needs to sign the report and make sure that the circle check is valid. Drivers can also refuse to accept the statement issued by another person, at which time they will have to perform their test and fill out a report. 

The owner's responsibility here is to maintain these vehicles in excellent condition, to repair and report defects, and to obtain these circle check reports from the operator. If there are any minor defects detected, the owner has 48 hours to remedy them. Major faults, on the other hand, require all necessary repairs made before that vehicle is used. 

The Checker Software will allow you or your personnel to perform these circle checks and all sorts of other safety inspections, audits, and assessments on mobile devices - providing you with numerous advantages and efficiencies. For more information about this software, feel free to check our website or contact us directly.

Tags: why inspect?, safety management, safety awareness, workplace safety, audit software

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