Saving Face: Preventing Head & Face Injuries in the Towing Industry

By Randall C. Resch On a quiet morning, one of my drivers walked into the office clutching a bloody rag against his mouth. His upper lip was split, several teeth were loose, and despite the pain, he managed a defeated smile and said, “Boss, the jack handle got me.”

It sure did.

For tow company owners focused on risk management, incidents like these deserve attention at every safety meeting. When an operator gets injured, management should immediately review what the employee was doing, whether proper procedures were followed, and if adequate training had been provided.

A Day’s Work

Tow operators don’t need formal tow school to understand that head and face injuries are painful, costly, and often preventable. When these accidents happen, companies must honestly ask whether the operator was working safely and whether management provided proper OSHA-required training.

Today, lack of training can lead to fines, liability, and possible legal exposure. In an industry filled with hazards, topic-specific safety training is no longer optional.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed numerous injuries and fatalities in towing and recovery. Reviewing those incidents reveals valuable lessons that can help prevent repeat accidents.

For operators fortunate enough to avoid a serious head or face injury so far, the following examples highlight some of the most common dangers encountered during a normal shift.

Jack Handle Assemblies

The opening scenario involved a two-piece jack handle disconnecting and striking the operator in the mouth. Two-piece handles require operators to ensure locking knobs or spring buttons are fully engaged before moving or pulling the jack.

A quick inspection can prevent serious injury.

Dolly Lift Bars & Wrecking Bars

Dolly bars and wrecking bars must be used only for their intended purposes.

A loose dolly bar can cause severe facial injuries or head trauma if installation procedures and safety latches are ignored. Operators should always remain outside the natural arc of the lifting bar in case a latch fails or the bar slips free.

If a dolly bar escapes an operator’s grip, step away immediately to avoid being struck.

Wrecking bars, with their sharp edges and pointed ends, are designed for prying damaged vehicle components—not for lifting dollies.

Remove Snatch Blocks After Use

An experienced tower nearly lost an eye and suffered a broken jaw when a chain snatch block snagged the carrier deck during loading.

Leaving snatch blocks hanging on winch lines creates unnecessary hazards. Banjo eyes, bed components, or chains can snag unexpectedly, causing violent recoil and serious injuries to the face, chest, or arms.

Once the recovery is complete, remove and properly stow snatch blocks.

Prevent Falls from Carrier Decks

Falls from carrier decks can be deadly. In one tragic case, a 47-year-old operator died after slipping from a carrier deck.

With deck heights commonly ranging from 42 to 48 inches, even a short fall can produce catastrophic injuries. Operators should move carefully, maintain good footing, and keep decks free of tools, debris, and spilled fluids.

Good housekeeping is a critical part of safety.

Falls from Truck Cabs

A tow trainee riding as an assistant reportedly lost footing while exiting a truck cab and suffered fatal injuries from the fall.

Three points of contact should always be maintained when entering or exiting truck cabs. Operators should never jump from the cab and should first confirm traffic conditions before stepping into roadway areas.

Hands should remain free while climbing in or out of the truck.

Running During Recoveries

Many operators pride themselves on working quickly, but running at recovery scenes creates unnecessary risk.

Uneven pavement, broken glass, debris, loose equipment, and hidden obstacles can all lead to serious trip-and-fall injuries. Recovery scenes are hazardous enough without adding speed to the equation.

As the saying goes: “When speed goes up, safety goes down.”

Saving Face

No hard fall is enjoyable. If a fall becomes unavoidable, operators should protect the head and face by tucking the chin, rounding the back, and rolling through the fall whenever possible.

Attempting to break a fall with outstretched arms often results in broken wrists or arms instead.

For operators who have never suffered an on-the-job injury, consider yourself fortunate. In the towing and recovery industry, injuries are not a matter of if—but when.

This industry can hurt you. Stay alert, stay trained, and work safely.

Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired, veteran, California police officer, former tow business owner and industry advocate. As consultant and trainer, he authored and teaches tow truck operator safety courses approved by the California Highway Patrol. For 57-years, he has been involved in the towing and recovery industry. In 29-years, he has contributed more than 800-safety focused articles for American Towman Magazine, TowIndustryWeek.com and POLICE Magazine. He is a frequent seminar presenter and beauty pageant judge at tow shows. In 2014, he was inducted to the International Towing and Recovery Industry Hall of Fame, was the 3rd recipient of the industry's "Dave Jones Leadership Award," and is a member of American Towman’s Safety Committee.

Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.