TSPS MAR 2025 FINAL REV - Flipbook - Page 28
SAFETY ARTICLE
cracks, splitting or other signs of age. Adjust
and tighten as needed and replace when necessary or according to the owner’s manual
maintenance schedule.
Brakes, Steering and Suspension
• Brakes. Visually inspect brake pads and rotors (or have this
done by a shop) for rust, uneven wear or indications of rotor warpage. This warpage can be felt when lightly applying
brakes as a pulsing feeling in the break pedal; it is not the
same pulsing as anti-lock brakes when breaks are quickly applied to avoid a collision. Grinding or other noises can indicate the need to replace brake pads and/or brake rotors.
• Shock absorbers and struts. Visually inspect shock absorbers and struts for leaking 昀氀uids or visible damage. Excessive
bouncing when driving and turning can indicate the need to
replace these parts. Tires can also be adversely affected by
worn suspension, shocks or struts.
• Power steering 昀氀uid. Check and add power
steering 昀氀uid according to the level indicators
on the vehicle’s power steering 昀氀uid reservoir.
A 昀氀uid level that is too low can cause steering/handling issues and possible damage to
the power steering system. Follow the owner’s
manual for speci昀椀cs on the required 昀氀uid.
Windshield wipers. Poor wipers affect visibility
in bad weather. Replace wiper blades at 6-month
intervals, or as often as needed. Replace both
sides, paying attention to the appropriate blade
sizes. Some vehicles have a longer wiper blade
on the driver’s side. Clean blades as needed to
ensure removal of bugs, greasy smears, and
more. High-cost blades are not always an indicator of the best quality or type of wiper blades.
Other factors are blade frame, composition of
blade materials, and attachment devices.
Filters, Belts and Hoses. Visually inspect all
belts for excessive looseness, excessive wear,
26 THE TEXAS SURVEYOR March 2025
Many vehicles have a cabin air 昀椀lter. To ensure cleaner cabin air, replace 昀椀lters annually
or according to the owner’s manual maintenance schedule.
First Aid Kit and Fire Extinguisher. A 昀椀rst
aid kit and 昀椀re extinguisher are two important items that every 昀椀eld truck should have.
These are even helpful in our personal vehicles. One never knows when an electrical 昀椀re
or fuel line 昀椀re may start in a vehicle. The
same is true with a 昀椀rst aid kit. Field crews
are prone to situations calling for the band
aids, bandages, eye wash, poison plant/insect bite creams, or other 昀椀rst aid items that a
昀椀eld truck should always carry.
Just like keeping your surveying instruments- tripods, bi-pods
and other equipment in good working order, regular inspection,
upkeep and maintenance of your vehicle is also highly important. Inspection helps keep us aware of the condition of our vehicle so we can get to and from work and our crews and surveying
instruments can get to and from their job sites safely, ef昀椀ciently
and economically. Keeping your vehicle(s) road ready and in
top mechanical shape is a must do matter. Downtime is costly,
especially if it can be reduced or avoided, by making occasional
inspections of our vehicle’s tires, tire pressure and condition,
昀氀uids, 昀椀lters, belts and hoses, windshield wipers, and more.
