Mountain Bike Accessories for Trail Work
Appendix A
Job Hazard Analyses for Riding Mountain Bicycles and for Trailers
Job Hazard Analysis for Riding Mountain Bikes
| USDA - Forest Service JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS |
1. Identify Job or Project to be Analyzed MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING |
2. Location Seward Ranger District |
3. Unit Chugach NF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Name of Analyst Stephen Hmurciak |
5. Job Title of Analyst Trail Crew Leader |
6. Date Prepared 8/92 |
|
| 7. Hazards | 8. Actions to Eliminate Hazards (Specify safe work procedures and personal protective equipment) |
||
| Mechanical Failure | Before each ride check tire pressure & tightness of wheels, adjust brakes & bounce to listen for rattles. Keep a thorough monthly & yearly maintenance schedule. | ||
| Vibrations causing circulation problems | Wear padded or gel gloves; use a gel seat cover; use a bike with front suspension when riding on trails; don't grip handlebars extremely tightly. | ||
| Falls | Wear a helmet and gloves; ride slowly & carefully observe the trail ahead; tie up loose pant legs; walk bike when trail becomes too rough or obscured by brush or grass. | ||
| Endos (head first over the handlebars) | Always wear helmet; apply pressure evenly to front & rear breaks; don't attempt to jump over abrupt obstacles like waterbars and open drains; ride slowly and observantly. | ||
| Surprise encounters with other trail users | Ride slowly; ring bell when approaching a blind corner; slow way down or get off and walk when passing hikers or other cyclists; get off to downhill side for horses. | ||
| Bears and wildlife encounters | Watch for wildlife crossing trail; carry pepper spray mounted on handlebars or bike frame; ring bell in high risk bear areas and on blind corners. | ||
| Serious Injuries | Carry a radio and first aid kit; sign out at office or let someone know where you are going. | ||
| Hypothermia | Wear less clothing when riding uphill and more when riding downhill; wear rain gear and wind protection when needed. | ||
| Dehydration | Carry lots of water and drink frequently. | ||
| Sore rear end, clothing getting caught in chain, too much sweating. | Wear padded bike pants, don't use pants with loose pant legs, wear synthetic clothing for riding mtn. bikes. | ||
| Head and Face Injuries | Wear helmet and goggles or shatterproof sunglasses; watch for overhanging branches and brush; avoid going over the handlebars head first. | ||
| Carrying loads | Make sure paniers are secure and not in way of wheels or feet; loads on racks should be lashed tightly and not stick out the sides; cover all sharp tool edges don't wear backpack while riding; keep weight balanced. | ||
| 9. Approved By | 10. Title | 11. Date | |
Job Hazard Analysis for Trailering Mountain Bikes
| USDA - Forest Service JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS |
1. Identify Job or Project to be Analyzed TRAILERING with a Mountain Bike |
2. Location Various Trails on SRD |
3. Unit Seward Ranger District |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Name of Analyst Irene B. Lindquist |
5. Job Title of Analyst Forest Technician |
6. Date Prepared 7/9/97 |
|
| 7. Hazards | 8. Actions to Eliminate Hazards (Specify safe work procedures and personal protective equipment) |
||
| Falls from bike due to pulling a trailer which makes travel on a bike more unstable. Falls due to the trailer not tracking behind the bike on corners. | Wear protective helmet, walk the bike when it's difficult to steer. Walk the bike and trailer around tight corners. Carry first aid kit. | ||
| Loss of braking ability due to loaded trailer pushing the mountain bike, especially down hills. | Don't load the trailer too heavy if you are traveling a trail with many hills. Check brake pads before you go & take extra brake pads with you to replace worn pads. | ||
| Physical exertion leading to loss of fluids, fatigue, and heat exhaustion. Mountain bike riding on the trails is a physically demanding activity in itself, add the weight of a trailer and you have an even more physically demanding task. | Since mountain biking and pulling a trailer on the trails is a physically demanding activity, be sure only people who are in excellent physical condition who have good coordination ride the bikes with trailers. Drink lots of fluids before, during, and after your trip, and replace lost electrolytes with drinks such as Gatorade Sports Drinks. Carry a water filter. | ||
| Breakdowns of trailer or bike. | Carry items to help you repair a breakdown. See list of suggested mtn. bike parts in the Trails Dept. Also carry a few items to help in repair of trailer hitch, such as pins, wire, etc. | ||
| People unfamiliar with bikes and trailers. | Review hazard analysis on mountain bike riding with an experienced trail rider. Experience trailering with light (20 lbs) loads. Keep trailer load under 40 lbs. Only trailer on well maintained Mountain Bike trails. | ||
| 9. Approved By DUANE H. HARP |
10. Title District Ranger |
11. Date | |
