Q&A - Riding on the Tailgate
Am I able to sit on the tailgate of a truck to move 20 meters get out, throw something in the truck, then sit on tailgate again to move the next 20 meters? If not, is there a way do do this legally?
Am I able to sit on the tailgate of a truck to move 20 meters get out, throw something in the truck, then sit on tailgate again to move the next 20 meters? If not, is there a way do do this legally?
Comments
Answer
I asked for a bit of clarification and found that this person works in highway construction zones setting up traffic control. He wants to ride the tailgate, get off and pick up a traffic cone, toss it in the truck and then repeat until the zone is set up or taken down.
WorkSafeBC is probably the authority here. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation covers this situation and is referenced on the WorkSafeBC site.
The guidelines are as follows:
It would appear to me that this would not be allowed unless you were safely restrained in some way while you were on the pickup tailgate.
WorkSafeBC contact information for information about workplace health and safety issues.
sitting on tailgate retrieving cones
Hmmm. My interpretation of the WCB regs seemed to me that the action of the person on the tailgate IS permitted. He is not standing, and he is not inside the vehicle. I guess the rubber hits the road if/when there is an accident and the tailgate sitter is injured. Still, it seems like an arguable defense to me.