Utility Vehicle Staging

Key Hazards

• Vehicles staged where traffic or equipment can strike them
• Workers exposed while accessing tools, parts, or equipment
• Blocked emergency access, driveways, hydrants, gates, or walkways
• Vehicles rolling from poor parking or slope conditions
• Tools, cones, hoses, or materials creating trip hazards around vehicles
• Poor staging causing backing, blind spots, or inefficient movement

2–3 Minute Talk Script

Utility vehicle staging affects the safety of the crew, the public, and the flow of work. A poorly staged vehicle can create traffic exposure, blocked access, and unnecessary movement around the job.

Before parking, drivers should consider traffic direction, work location, equipment access, visibility, ground conditions, and escape routes.

Vehicles should be staged to protect the work area when appropriate, but not in a way that blocks emergency access, hydrants, driveways, gates, intersections, sidewalks, or sight lines.

Workers should be able to access tools, cones, parts, and equipment from the side away from traffic whenever possible.

Parking brakes should be set, and wheel chocks should be used when required by slope, loading, towing, or site procedure.

Vehicle doors, compartments, liftgates, cones, hoses, cords, and tools should be managed so they do not create trip hazards or extend into traffic.

Staging should reduce backing whenever possible. If the vehicle must be moved, the crew should communicate and use a spotter when visibility is limited.

Safe utility vehicle staging depends on planning the parking position, protecting workers from traffic, keeping access clear, preventing rollaway, and adjusting the setup when conditions change.

Safety Reminders

• Plan vehicle staging before work begins.
• Park where workers can access tools safely.
• Avoid blocking emergency access, hydrants, driveways, and walkways.
• Use brakes and wheel chocks when needed.
• Keep doors, compartments, hoses, and cones out of traffic paths.
• Stage vehicles to reduce backing.
• Reposition vehicles if traffic or job conditions change.

Ask the Crew

• Is this the safest place to stage the vehicle?
• Can workers access tools away from traffic?
• Is anything blocking emergency access or public movement?
• Is rollaway prevention needed?
• Will this setup reduce or create backing hazards?