HSEBOOKS - Aberystwyth University · Risk assessment 18 The purpose of a risk assessment is to help...

WORKPLACETRANSPOR

SAFETY

HSEBOOKS

T

© Crown copyright 1995Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to:Copyright Unit, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ

First published 1995Reprinted 1995, 1998, 2000 (with amendments)

ISBN 0 7176 0935 9

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLESOFSAFE WORKINGWho should read this guidance? PRACTICES

2 Accidents - numbers, costs and causes 32 Reversingof vehicles3 The legal duties 34 Parking of vehicles

35 Access on to vehiclespage 4 MANAGING THE RISKS 38 Loading and unloading

4 The legal duty 40 Tipping of loads4 Risk assessment 43 Sheeting and unsheetingof loads

ORGANISINGFORSAFETY page 46 APPENDIX 18 Control Checklist 9 . Communication10 Co-operation page11 Competence Legislation applicable to workplace

transport safetyA SAFE WORKPLACE, SAFEVEHICLES AND SAFE DRIVERS REFERENCES AND FURTHER

12 A safe workplace GUIDANCE21 Vehicle safety 23 Maintenance 26

28 Contractors, visiting drivers and

Selection and training of drivers and other employees

shared workplaces

iii

page 1

page 8

page 12

page 32

51 APPENDIX 2

page 52

INTRODUCTION

1 This publication provides a source of practical guidance and reference to assist those concerned with all forms of workplace transport to secure a safe workplace, safe working practices and to comply with the law.

Who should read this guidance?

2 The guidance is directed particularly atowners, employers and managers, includinghauliers and those responsible for contractors, atworkplaces where any form of transport is used. Itwill also be useful to supervisorystaff, employees(and, where relevant, their trade-union appointed safety representatives) and self-employed people.

3 The main areas of guidance deal with:

(a) assessing the risks associated withworkplace transport activities;

organising for safety by establishingresponsibilitiesamong drivers and otheremployees and promoting a positive safetyculture in the workplace;

securing a safe workplace and safe vehicles and ensuring that drivers play their part in workplace safety; and

establishing safe working practicesfor

particular activities where vehicles areinvolved.

‘Workplace transport’ refers to any vehicle or 4piece of mobile equipment, which is used by employers, employees, self-employed people or visitors in any work setting (apart from travelling on public roads). It covers a very wide range of familiar vehicles, for example cars and vans, fork lift trucks, heavy goods vehicles, and the many different sorts of industrial trucks, dumpers etc. Workplace transport also covers less common vehicles and plant such as straddle carriers,rubber-tyred gantries and self-propelledmachinery. Where used in this guidance, the term ‘vehicle’ refers to the whole range of different vehicles found at the workplace, including mobile equipment.

5 This guidance does not deal with airtransport,water transport, railways, or thespecialised transport used in underground mining.

6 It is mainly targeted at medium and large industrial and commercial workplaces. It should also be useful for workplaces such as construction sites, quarries, farms and forestry operations, but reference should also be made to guidance documents specifically relating to these industries (see References and further guidance).

(b)

(c)

(d)

1

Introduction

7with many of the areas covered in this guidance.

Accidents - numbers, costs andcauses

8workplace transport-relatedaccidents. In additionthere are more than 1000major injuries (ie accidentswhich result in broken bones,amputationsetc) and around 5000 injuries that cause people to be off work for more than three

An HSE video’ aimed at managers deals An employee who was bringing a cup of coffeeto the driver of a fork lift truck was crushed bythe truck against steel railings which had beenprovided to separate pedestrians from the vehicle roadway. The employee, who had approached the truck on the road side of therailings, said after the accident that the driver had reversed the truck without looking.

The driver should not have reversed without checking that the roadway was clear, and theemployee should have approached the truckalong the pedestrian route. Employers areresponsible for ensuring that employees use

Every year about 70 people are killed in

9 Alongside the personal distress caused by safe working practices. an accident, a relatively minor accident (forexample, one which results in an employee beingoff work for only a few days) is likely to cost around £ 3 500, and a major accident around £30 000.Most of this cost is usually borne by the owner, employer, haulier etc.

10 Most transport-related accidents involve people being hit or run over by moving vehicles, people falling from vehicles, people being struck by objects falling from vehicles (usually part of theload) or being injured as a result of vehiclesoverturning. However, the underlying causes are usually found in poor management control. In other words, management often fail to provide safesystems of work, or fail to ensure that safesystems are followed, usually through too little information, instruction, training or supervision.The majority of transport-related accidents arepreventable.

11 The problem seems to stem from the fact that vehicles are so widely used, both on publicroads and at workplaces, that employers, managers, employees etc often do not recognise -until a serious accident actually happens -thatvehicle activities can be very dangerous, andtherefore need to be managed to ensure safety.

12 Employers who direct their attention towards improvingsafety in the workplace can identify andmake improvementswhich not only reduce the riskof accidents and the associated costs, but alsolead to general improvements in working practices. These in turn lead to improvements in productivity.So rather than being a burden, there are clearbenefits for a company when an employer takesthese steps.

2

Introduction

The legal duties

13that are applicable to workplace transport activities, most of which are outlined at the appropriate point in the guidance and listed in Appendix 2. However, the principal legal duty on employers is, so far as is reasonably practicable, to provide and maintain safe systems of work, and to take all reasonably practicable precautions toensure the health and safety of all workers in the workplace and members of the public who might be affected by their activities.

14that of employers - to minimise risks to their own and other people’s health and safety.

15of their own and others’ health and safety and toco-operatewith management in meeting theirobligations. Employees need to recognise this responsibilityand act accordingly.

16 Failure to comply with the above duties might lead to prosecution. The following sections provide guidance on how employers can comply with their duties.

There are a number of specific legalduties

Self-employed people have a similar duty to

All employees have a legal duty to take care

3

Warning sign

Managing the risks

MANAGING THE RISKS

The legal duty

17 Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW) requires employers and self-employed people to assess the risks to workers and anyone else, for example members of the public, who may be affected by the work activities being undertaken. Both the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and legislation covering particular hazards or sectors of work require that appropriate preventive and protective measures should be taken in the light of the risks identified. These requirements apply to all work activities, including those involving transport, eg driving, loading, sheeting, maintenance.

Risk assessment

18 The purpose of a risk assessment is to help employers and self-employed people comply with their legal duties by determining what measures need to be taken to ensure a safe workplace and safe working practices. Carrying out a risk assessment need not be excessively complex or technical. Most employers carry out risk assessments during the normal course of their work. For example, when employing new drivers

an employer would normally identify how much information, instruction or training they need, to ensure that they are able to carry out their driving duties without making mistakes or causing accidents. In identifying that there are risks associated with new drivers and then deciding what precautions to take (for example to give the new recruits safety instructions), the employer has carried out a risk assessment.

19 The MHSW Regulations require that employers should undertake a general examination of all the risks arising from their work activities. Five steps have been identified to help employers assess the risks systematically:

(a) identify the hazards;

(b)

(c)

identify who might be harmed, and how;

evaluate the risks and assess whether existing precautions are adequate or whether more precautions are needed;

record the significant findings; and

periodically review the risk assessment, as necessary.

(d)

(e)

4

Managing the risks

20you might carry out a risk assessment, with examples relating to workplace transport.

Identifying the hazards

21activities involving vehicles, including visiting vehicles, over a reasonable period (maybe over the course of a week). For example, the activities are likely to include the arrival and departure ofvehicles; their travel within the workplace; loading, unloading and securing loads; and possiblymaintenance work on the vehicles.

22associated with these work activities. To do this,look at each of the work activities associated with transport and ask: What are the possible dangers, and what is causing those dangers?

23 For example: should include:

(a)

The following paragraphs give advice on how

Employers first need to identify the work

Employers can then identify the hazards

(d) Is there a danger of the vehicle overturning, and what is the cause?

In looking for the hazards, areas to look at 24

Is there a danger of people being struck orrun over by moving vehicles, and what is thecause?

Is there a danger of people falling fromvehicles, for example while gaining access toor alighting from them or while involved in loading/unloadingor other activities, and what is the cause?

Is there a danger of being struck by an objectfalling from a vehicle, and what is the cause?

(a) the vehicles themselves. Are they safe and suitable for the work for which they are beingused? Are they properly maintained? Do thevehicles need to be replaced with new, safervehicles? (see Vehicle safety, page 21);

the routes or roadways used by the vehicles. Are they safe and suitable for the type and number of vehicles using them? Has account been taken of nearby hazards and obstructions?(see A safe workplace,page 12);

the actions of the drivers. Are they using safe

(b)

(b)

(c)

(c)

5

Managing the risks

working practices - for example when gaining access to the vehicles; with the routes and speeds they use; while loading/unloading and securing loads; when reversing and parking their vehicles; and particularly where they might use ‘short-cuts’? Are there pressures being placed on drivers which are inconsistent with safety - for example, do they have to rush driving activities to complete their work on time; or is there a risk of accidents caused by fatigue as a result of excessive working hours? (see Examples of safe working practices, page 32);

the activitiesof others in the vicinity of thevehicles. Are other workers on site,customers, members of the public etc keptseparate from vehicle activities whereverpossible?

25 Employers should look at each of the aboveareas and identify possible dangers to employees,including drivers, or anyone else in the workplace. In doing this, it is recommended that employersshould consult their drivers and any otheremployees at the site (including contractors, and possibly visiting drivers) for their views.

Identifying who might be harmed and how

26 For each hazard that you identify, determine who might be harmed, and how. The people thatcould be harmed are likely to be anyone employedat the workplace or anyone who comes on to thesite. This is likely to include drivers, all other employees, contractors, sub-contractors, visiting

drivers, customers, part-time employees, cleaners, maintenance personnel, visitors and possibly members of the public.

Evaluating the risks

27who are at risk from the hazard, evaluate the risks,ie the likelihood that harm will occur and its severity, and assess whether existing precautions are adequate or whether more precautions areneeded. In effect you should ask: Have suitablemeasures been taken to reduce this risk, and arethe measures adequate?

28any general legal duties or specific legal requirements relating to the hazard then clearly more precautions are needed. However, even if youhave already taken measures to reduce particularrisks, you will still need to ask whether the remaining risks are acceptably low when measuredagainst the consequencesof an accident, orwhether you could reasonably be expected to domore to reduce the risks. For example, you mightdecide that in addition to imposing speed limits on vehicle routes, road humps or similar speed-reducing measures are neededto ensure that vehicles cannot drive too fast.

29to be done, it is recommended that solutions should be sought in the following order:

(a)

For each hazard, and bearing in mind those

(d)In the first place, if you have not complied with

If you conclude that something more needs

Try to eliminate the hazard altogether (for example, by restricting vehicle movements to

6

certain parts of the workplace); but if this typeof solution i s not available or practical then

Try to reduce the risks, preferably in thefollowing order:

(i)

(b)

Where possible, change the layout ofthe workplace or use vehicles with the appropriate safety features (for example, have separate pathways forpedestrians, use road humps, orvehicles with speed limiters);If (i) is not practical, set up safesystems of working (for example,enforce speed limits);As a last resort, instruct and train employees to take care, and to make use of equipment such as personalprotective equipment.

(ii)

(iii)

An employee, a temporary worker at hisworkplace, was leaving the site at the end of theday. He crossed in front of doors used by fork lifttrucks and fell over the forks of a truck which was coming through the doors, injuring his arm.

The employee had not heard the vehicle's hornand had received no information on general workplace hazards and how to avoid them.There was no demarcation of vehicle and pedestrian routes, and no marking on the doors to indicate their use. The driver could not see the employee on the other side of the doors.

The site operator is responsible for assessingthe risks at the workplace arising out of workactivities, and for taking the measuresnecessary to reduce those risks so that they are as low as reasonably practicable.

Managing the risks

7

Organising for safety

ORGANISING FOR SAFETY33 This section provides guidance on Controlestablishingresponsibilitiesandrelationshipswithdriversand otheremployees, includingcontractorsetc, to secure safe working practices and to promote a positive safety culture in the workplace. It should be read in conjunction with the section Selection and training of drivers and other employeeson page 26, and, where applicable, Contractors, visiting driversandsharedworkplaceson page 28.

34 To secure and maintain a safe workplace and safe working practices, employers need to ensure that everyone at the workplace, from senior managementto individual employees, is aware of their individual responsibilities for safety, and acts accordingly. (b) by making periodic tours of the workplace,

including inspections of vehicles, roadways etc, 35 with the specific aim of checking that there are involves: no obvious hazards in the workplace and that

safe working practices are being followed; (a) Control

by ensuring that formal or informal work-related (b) Communication discussions with employees always include

safety issues relating to their work activities. (c) Co-operation

An accident reporting system is essential to (d) Competence. enable employers to meet their obligations to report

36control over safety in the workplace and work activities.

37 Firstly, employers need to take responsibility for safety, and then show their commitment, by example and in their everyday decisions, for example:

(a) by holding regular (weekly, monthly) meetings with employees and, where applicable, their safety representatives, to discuss current work activities and the associated safety issues;

There are three key aspects to establishing

Establishing a positive safety culture

(c)

38

8


9

accidents covered by the Reporting of Injuries,Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations1995. It is also valuable in monitoring theeffectiveness of measures to prevent accidents, andensuring that all accidents are reported to managers.A clear and simple procedure for reporting faults andhazards can help prevent serious accidents. However,it is important that managers do not use the accidentreporting system to apportion blame as this maydiscourage employees from using it.

39 Secondly, a clear allocation of responsibilitiesis needed so that all employees, contractors, sub-contractors, visiting drivers, maintenancepersonnel etc understand their own individualresponsibilities for maintaining a safe workplaceand safe working practices. There are variousways of achieving this, for example by:

(a) including safety responsibilities in employees'job descriptions, and in contracts withcontractors;

(b) including safety issues and responsibilities inthe information, instruction and training givento those new to the workplace;

(c) raising safety issues and responsibilitieswhile supervising employees and being indaily contact with them; and

(d) displaying safety notices or bulletins.

40 Thirdly, employers, managers etc need toensure that everyone involved in work activities isheld accountable for their responsibilities, primarily

through supervision, and are subject to some formof penalty if they fail to comply.

41 Supervision is an essential element of anysystem of management control. The level ofsupervision is usually based on the risks involved,in particular work activities, and on the competenceof employees to identify and deal with them. Evenwhere risks are low, some supervision will alwaysbe needed to ensure that standards are beingmaintained and that drivers and other employeeshave not become complacent.

42 The employer, manager etc will usually needto have a clear system of penalties availableshould employees, contractors etc fail to maintainstandards or comply with safe working practices.For employees there is usually a disciplinaryprocedure with the possibility, ultimately, ofdismissal; for contractors there may be financialpenalties and termination of the contract.

43 It is also possible to secure control byauthorising certain activities and, in particular, byauthorising specific people to operate certainvehicles and undertake vehicle-related activitiessuch as maintenance.

Communication

44 Good communication within an organisationhelps secure and maintain a safe workplace andsafe working practices. It is important that the linesof communication are strong throughout theorganisation so that everyone is clear about theirhealth and safety responsibilities.


45 Information that needs to be communicatedincludes:

(a) the organisation's safety policy and what itmeans in practical terms;

(b) the allocation of safety responsibilities;

(c) details of safe working practices thatemployees, contractors etc need to follow;

(d) details of where employees etc can obtainmore information, instruction or training onparticular aspects of their work activities; and

(e) feedback to employees on how well theyhave complied with safe working practices.

A joiner suffered severe head injuries when hefell approximately two metres from the top of astack of timber on the back of a flat-bed lorry.

The joiner was helping to unload a delivery oftimber when he climbed on top of the stack.While edging along the stack he lost his footingand fell. An unloading bay with a concreteplatform was available to provide safe accessfor unloading vehicles, but was not used.

The joiner should have received instruction onhow to unload safely, ie by using the unloadingbay. Better supervision should have ensured thathe complied with those instructions. Climbing ontop of loads should be avoided wherever possible.

46 It is important that employers, managers etcencourage everyone at the workplace, includingcontractors, to take an active interest in safetyissues. Employees etc should feel able to expresstheir views or concerns to those in charge of theworkplace and the people they work with.

47 Where there are trade-union appointed safetyrepresentatives within an organisation, the employerhas a legal duty under section 2(6) of the Healthand Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) to consultwith the safety representatives so that the employerand employees can co-operate effectively on healthand safety matters. The employer has a duty undersection 2(7) of the HSWA to set up a health andsafety committee when requested by two or moresafety representatives.

Co-operation

48 Obtaining the co-operation of everyone atthe workplace is important because it confirms thatthey (employees, visiting drivers, contractors etc)have accepted their safety responsibilities and canbe expected to implement safe working practices.

49 Employees have a duty under section 7 ofthe HSWA to take reasonable care of their ownhealth and safety and that of others who may beaffected by what they do at work. Employees'duties also include co-operating with theiremployers to enable the employers to comply withtheir health and safety responsibilities.

50 A health and safety committee can be aneffective way of enlisting the formal participation

10


and co-operation of everyone at the workplace incarrying out their health and safety responsibilities.

Competence competencefor a job:

51 Employers need to ensure that all employees, (a) Have effective recruitment and placementcontractors, visiting drivers etc, including managers,are capable of doing their work in aproper way which is safe for themselves and forother people.

52 In a large organisation, senior management need to satisfy themselves that managers andsupervisors involved in day-to-day work activitiesare capable of effective organisation to secure safe assessments of individual fitness by working practices and a safe workplace. In other medical examinations; words they can: (ii) tests to assess aptitudes and abilities;

and/or(a) establish control; (iii) recognised qualifications or training

certificates to be held by employees;(b) communicate effectively;

Provide information, instruction and training to (c) obtain co-operation; and maintain or improve employees’ competence,

particularlywhere changes in staff, equipment

(d) or procedures are planned.

to employeesetc on their safety performance.

54 There are two principalways of ensuring

proceduresto ensure that all those employedat the workplace, including managers, havethe relevant knowledge, experience etc to be capable of doing their jobs safely, or canacquire these attributes on the job or throughtraining. Where necessary, the proceduresmay require:

(i)

(b)

allocate and organise work activities in a waythat secures and maintains a safe working environment. 55 See also Selection and training of drivers and

In all organisations, those in charge need toother employees on page 26.

56employees, contractorsetc is needed to ensurethat their competence is maintained and developed. This is particularlynecessary for those new to a job, those undergoing training, and thosewho are working on site on a contract basis.

53ensure, and take measures to check, thatemployees, contractors and, where possible,visiting drivers etc are capable of performing theirwork activities in a safe and responsible manner and are willing to do so. Those in charge will need to be capable and willing to provide information,instruction, supervision, and constructive feedback

Proper management and supervision of

11

A safe workplace, safe vehicles and safe drivers

A SAFE WORKPLACE, SAFE VEHICLES AND SAFE DRIVERS57owners, employers and managers, including hauliers and those responsible for contractors, tosecure a safe workplace, safe vehicles, and ensure that drivers play their part in workplacesafety. (i) pedestrians or, as the case may be,

A safe workplace

58Regulations 1992 place various duties onemployers and those in control at workplaces.

59traffic routes and requires that:

(a)way that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate in a safe manner;

(b)

This section gives practicaladvice to help of sufficient size. Trafficroutes shall notsatisfy the requirements of the aboveparagraph unless suitable measures aretaken to ensure that:

vehicles may use a traffic route without causing danger to the health or safetyof persons at work near it;

there is sufficient separation of anytraffic route for vehicles from doors orgates or from traffic routes forpedestrians which lead onto it; and

where vehicles and pedestrians use the same traffic route, there is sufficient separation between them; and

all traffic routes shall be suitably indicated where necessary for reasons of health orsafety.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)

(ii)

Regulation 17 relates to the organisation of

(iii)every workplace shall be organised in such a

(c)traffic routes in a workplace shall be suitable for the persons or vehicles using them, sufficient in number, in suitable positions and

12


Design and layout of road systems

60wherever possible:

(a)

The following good practice is recommended

Plan traffic routes to give the safest route between places where vehicles have to call;

Make traffic routes wide enough for the safe movement of the largest vehicle permitted to use them, including visiting vehicles. They should also be wide enough to allow vehicles to pass oncoming or parked vehicles safely without leaving the route. One-way systems or restrictions on parking should be introduced where necessary. Any restrictions should be clearly indicated. On traffic routes in existence before 1 January 1993, where it is not practical to widen the road, passing places or traffic management systems should be provided as necessary;

Avoid traffic routes passing close to vulnerable items like fuel or chemical tanks or pipes, or any open and unprotected edge from which vehicles could fall or where they could become unstable, unless the item or edge is adequately protected. Also, do not allow vehicles to pass close to anything that is likely to collapse or be left in a dangerous state if hit, unless it is adequately protected;

Ensure that there are safe areas for safe loading and unloading (see Loading bays,page 18).

(b)

(c)

(d)

Bollards to protect vulnerable tanks from vehicles

13

Two mechanics recieved crush injuries when trapped against the wall of their workshop by a single-decker bus. A third mechanic, who was a trained driver, was moving the bus in the service bay of the workshop when his foot slipped from the brake to the accelerator. The bus shot forward, crushing the two men.

The bus was already parked close to the wall and this gave the driver very little time to re- apply the brakes after his foot slipped As a result of the accident it was decided that

buses should be parked further away from solid structures;and that there may be a need for barriers to seperate vehicles from pedestrians.

(e) Avoid sharp or blind bends on vehicle routes wherever possible. Where they are unavoidable, consider measures such as one- way systems, or the use of mirrors to improve vision. One-way systems can also be useful to avoid the need for vehicles to reverse;

Road junctions and roadrail crossings should be kept to a minimum, and be clearly signed and marked to show right of way. At rail crossings right of way must be in favour of trains, since even at low speeds they cannot stop easily;

Make entrances and gateways wide enough; where possible there should be enough space to accommodate a second vehicle which may have stopped for any reason without causing obstruction;

(h) Set sensible speed limits and clearly signpost them on vehicle routes. Where necessary, use suitable speed retarders, for example road humps or bollards to restrict the width of road. These should always be preceded by a warning sign or a mark on the road. Arrangements should be made where necessary to avoid fork lift trucks having to pass over road humps (unless the fork lift truck is a type which can negotiate them safely);

Give prominent warning of any limited headroom, both in advance and at the obstruction itself. Any potentially dangerous obstructions such as overhead electric cables or pipes containing flammable or hazardous chemicals etc need to be protected, ie using goal posts, height gauge posts or barriers;

Where possible, mark and signpost the routes on open manoeuvring areas or yards. A signaller (banksman) may be needed to supervise vehicle movements:

Where necessary, provide screens or other protection for people who are at risk from exhaust fumes, or to protect people from materials which could fall from vehicles;

Restrict vehicle access where high-risk substances are stored, for example places where liquid petroleum gas is delivered and stored (see Storage of LPG at fixed installation.2), and where vehicles are refuelled;

(f)

(i)

(9)

(j)

(k)

(I)

Mirror to improve drivers' vision round a corner

14



Pedestrians

61followed wherever possible:

(a)

The following good practice should be

Provide separate routes or pavements for pedestrians, to keep them away from vehicles;

Where needed, provide suitable barriers or guard rails at entrances to and exits from buildings, and at the corners of buildings, to prevent pedestrians walking straight on to roads;

If traffic routes are used by both pedestrians and vehicles, they should be wide enough to allow vehicles to pass pedestrians safely. On traffic routes in existence before 1 January 1993, passing places or traffic management systems should be provided, as necessary, where it is not practical to make the route wide enough for this purpose. Routes used by vehicles such as fork lift trucks inside buildings should be indicated by lines drawn on the floor to inform pedestrians;

Where pedestrian and vehicle routes cross, appropriate crossing points should be provided and used. Crossing points should be suitably marked and signposted. Where necessary, barriers or rails should be provided to prevent pedestrians crossing at particularly dangerous points and to direct them to designated crossing places. At crossing places where there is a high volume

(b)

(c)

(d)

15

Barrier to indicate roadway and protect nearby racking

Guard-rail at exit to building


vehicles and also by pedestrians, steps should be taken to ensure that pedestrians do not become trapped by vehicles. The vehicles should be fitted with safeguards to minimise the risk of injury. Sufficient clearance should be provided between the vehicles and pedestrians, and care should be taken to ensure that fixtures along the route do not create trapping hazards;

If the public have access to the premises, for example to visit a farm or factory shop, the public access point should be as near as possible to the shops etc, and where possible separate from work activities. Routes to be used by the public should be clearly signposted.

(i)

Pedestrian crossing point on roadway

of traffic, the provision of traffic lights orsuitable bridges or subways should beconsidered; 62 Wherever practical, suitable and sufficient

parking areas should be provided for all vehicles Pedestrians should be able to see clearly in using the workplace - both for work-relatedall directions at crossing points; vehicles and private cars, motor cycles and pedal

cycles. The type of parking area will depend on Where crowds of people are likely to walk on what vehicles are used at the workplace (includingto roadways, for example at the end of a visiting vehicles), where they go and what they are shift, consideration should be given to used for.stopping vehicles from using the routes atthese times; 63 Parking areas should be situated in safe

locations. For example, drivers leaving parked Separate vehicle and pedestrian doors vehicles should not have to cross potentially should be provided in premises, with vision dangerous work areas. Wherever possible, they panels on all doors; should be on level ground, have a firm, even

surface and safe means of access and exit. They On routes used by automatic, driverless need to be clearly signposted to ensure that

Parking areas

(e)

(f)

(9)

(h)

16


Pedestrian crossing point and barrier on two-way vehicle road

Separate doors for vehicles and pedestrians

17


Typical warehouse vehicle unloading/loading area, showing separate pedestrian access

employees and visiting drivers can see where topark their vehicles. Parking areas usually need to be well lit.

Loading bays

64situated in safe and suitable locations, forexample adjacent to marshalling areas so thatvehicles can be manoeuvred easily, or nearsheeting areas. be needed.

65 Loading bays should be providedwith atleast one pedestrianexit point from the lower level.Wide loading bays usually need at least two exit

points, one at each end. Alternatively, a refuge canbe provided to prevent people being struck orcrushed by vehicles.

66marked clearly. Where there is a danger of peoplefalling off them, loading bays may need to befenced, eg by secure guard-rails (designed so thatgoods can be passed safely over or under them). Iffencing is not practical, alternative safeguards may

The edges of loading bays will need to be

Loading bays should, as far as possible, be

67 It may also be necessary to provideprotectionagainst adverse weather conditions.

18

A safe Workplace, safe vehicles and safe drivers

Constructiono f roads

68 Regulation 12 of the Workplace (Health,Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires that “every traffic route in a workplace shall be of aconstruction such t hat the floor orsurface of thetraffic route is suitable for the purpose for which itis used. Regulation 12(3) requires that “so far asis reasonably practicable, traffic routes shall be kept free from obstructions and from any article orsubstance which may cause a person to slip, tripor fall”.

69 Wherever possible, roads should be constructedof tarmacadam, concrete or othersuitable material. They should have firm and evensurfaces, and be properly drained. Excessive gradientsshould be avoided. Steep gradients should be properly signposted. If possible, gradients should be avoided in areas where lift trucks andother similar plant are required to operate, unless they are designed to operate on gradients.

Lighting

70Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires that “every workplace shall have suitable and sufficient lighting”.

71 All roads, manoeuvring areas and yards should be adequately lit, with particular attention being given to areas near junctions, buildings, plant, pedestrian areas, and places where there isregular movement of vehicles or mobile plant. Glare from the sun can sometimes be a problem

Well-lit and marked roadway

for drivers, and measures may be needed to avoidthis (eg sun visors). Measures may also be needed to avoid strong variation of light between the inside and outside o f premises.

Roadsigns

72Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requiresthat “all traffic routes shall be suitably indicatedwhere necessary for reasons of health and safety”.

73 In the first place it may be useful t o provide aplanof the workplace, at the entrance and at otherappropriate points, indicating vehicle routes, one-waysystems etc. This would be particularly useful at workplaces which havevisiting drivers. Adequatesignposting should be provided at relevant parts of theworkplace so that drivers do not go the wrong way.

Regulation 17(4) of the Workplace (Health,Regulation 8 o f the Workplace (Health,

19


74to be indicated by suitable warning signs. Such hazards may include sharp bends, junctions, crossings, blind corners, steep gradients, or roadworks. Suitable road markings and signs may also be needed to alert drivers to restrictions on the use of traffic routes. Road signs used to warn or inform should comply with the design prescribed by The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 and set out in the Highway code.

75pedestrians of hazards and the routes they should use.

76will need to be illuminated and/or reflectorised.

Potential hazards on traffic routes may need

Similar signs may be necessary to inform

Where signs have to be visible at night, they

Temporary workplaces and unprepared roadways

77and forestry operations, often have routes for vehicles and pedestrians which change as the work progresses. It is important that these routes, including any intended changes, are carefully planned to ensure where possible that they comply with the same basic safety standards applicable to permanent routes, ie the standards set by regulation 17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (see paragraphs 58 and 59). Where appropriate, the guidance inparagraphs 60-61 will also be relevant. It is important for employers to ensure that all driversand pedestrians know which routes they may or may not use.

78quarries, farms etc contain ‘unprepared’ routes - unsurfaced roads or open ground for vehicle traffic. These routes should, as far as possible, conform to the same basic standards applying to ‘prepared’ (usually tarmacadam) roadways, ie they should be suitable for their purpose, have firm and even surfaces, be properly drained, and should avoid excessive gradients.

79 Temporary roadways and unprepared routescan increase the risk of accidents, for example vehicles overturning on uneven ground, or drivers being unsure which route to take where there are no road markings (eg on gravel roads). Consequently, there will usually need to be an increased emphasis on:

Temporary workplaces, eg construction sites

Many workplaces, eg construction sites,

20


(a) driver competence, particularly in dealing with hazards encountered on unprepared routes; 82 Regulation 4 of the Provision and Use of

the provision of information and instruction for drivers, particularly if they are not familiar with the temporary roadways;

safe systems of work and traffic management, for example use of temporary road signs and traffic lights where necessary; and

supervision of drivers, vehicle activities and other employees.

duties in ensuring vehicle safety.

Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires that:

(a)(b)

“every employer shall ensure that work equipment [which includes vehicles] is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided;

in selecting work equipment, every employer shall have regard to the working conditions and to the risks to the health and safety of persons which exist in the premises or undertaking in which that work equipment is to be used, and any additional risk posed by the use of that work equipment; and

(c)

(b)

(d)

An increased emphasis on preventive checks may also be necessary to ensure that vehicles do not develop faults while working on unprepared roadways. (c) every employer shall ensure that work

80 Safety banks may be needed on some routes to prevent vehicles running over open edges, or to indicate a safe route. It is recommended that a bank should have a minimum height of 1.5 metres or half the wheel diameter of the largest vehicle using the route, whichever is the greater, and a cross-sectional area large enough to allow a vehicle’s speed/mpact to be absorbed. Alternatively, if large rocks are used to form a safety bank, the rocks will need to be of sufficient height and mass to absorb the impact.

Vehicle safety

81owners, employers etc comply with their legal

equipment is only used for operations, and under conditions for which, it is suitable”.

Design of vehicles

83 The design of vehicles used on public roads is the subject of detailed legislation. The overallstandard of vehicles used in workplaces should beat least the same as for use on public roads. For some particularly hazardous workplaces and work activities, for example at construction sites, there may be a need for higher standards or additional safety features.

84 Where appropriate, the following design features are considered to be particularly important for-vehicles used at the workplace:

This section provides guidance to help

21


(a) A high degree of stability under working conditions;

A safe means of access to and exit from the cab and other parts of the vehicle;

Suitable and effective service and parking brakes;

Windscreens with wipers, and external mirrors to provide optimum all-round visibility. Closed-circuit TV may be appropriate for some vehicles where the

(b)

(c)

(d)

The driver of a fork lift truck was injured when he was struck by a pallet which fell off the back of an HGV while he was unloading it.

The HGV was loaded with pallets of flat-packed cardboard boxes, packed three pallets h i g h. Thefork lift truck could not reach the top pallet for unloading and so the driver attempted to unloadthe top two pallets as one. The top pallet of the pair toppled during the lifting procedure and fell approximately three metres, striking a glancing blow to the driver.

The fork lift truck did not have enough reachand was therefore inappropriate for the unloading procedure. In other circumstances, a fork lift truck with protection against falling objects might be suitable. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide equipment which is suitable for its intended use.

driver has a very restricted rear view and the risk of injury is high;

A horn, vehicle lights, reflectors, reversing lights and possibly other warning devices (eg rotating beacons, reversing alarms);

Suitable painting and markings to make the vehicle conspicuous;

The provision of seats, and seat belts where necessary, that are safe and allow for driver comfort;

Guards on dangerous parts of the vehicle (eg power take-offs, chain drives, exposed exhaust pipes);

Driver protection from adverse weather conditions, and also protection from an inhospitable working environment, eg low temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, and excessive noise and vibration;

Driver protection to prevent injury in the event of an overturn, and to prevent the driver being hit by falling objects.

(e)

(f)

(9)

(h)

(i)

(j)

Privately owned vehicles

85 Employers, managers etc usually have limited control over the condition of private cars, vans, motor cycles and pedal cycles brought into the workplace. Nevertheless, their use can be regulated by:

(a) restricting their routes;

22

A safe Workplace, safe vehicles and safe drivers

(b) providing clearly signposted parking areas, wherever possible away from main routes and dangerous areas; and

enforcing speed limits. In addition, it should be made clear to all employees that driving in the workplace calls for the same standards as on public roads, and often requires even more skill and care.

(c)

Maintenance

86 Health and safety in motor vehicle repair 3

provides guidance on safe working practices for maintenance work in relation to vehicles.

The workplace

87 Regulation 5 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires that "the workplace shall be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair". 'Efficient' in this context relates tohealth, safety and welfare (not productivity or economy). Regulation 12(3) requires that "everyfloor in a workplace and the surface of every traffic route shall be kept free from obstructions".

88following measures should be taken:

(a)

To comply with these requirements the

Materials which fall on to the road from vehicles and elsewhere and may present a danger should be removed as soon as possible;

Roadways should be maintained to provide(b)

23

Side-mounted mirrors

Parking area for employees' cars


good grip for vehicles (for example, they should be scarified if too smooth, gritted or sanded if slippery, and kept free of oil, grease and other debris);

Signs and lighting should be kept clean and well maintained so that they are visible at all times;

Road markings should be renewed when worn; and

Pot-holes should not be allowed to develop (if found they should be repaired promptly).

Where maintenance work has to be carried

(c)

(d)

(e)

89out on or near roads, vehicle traffic should be kept away from those doing the work. This may involve

lnternal roadway with appropriate markings

the use of cones or barriers, or closing the road or route to traffic. Warning signs and speed limits should be used where appropriate.

Vehicles

90 Regulation 6 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires "every employer to ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair".

91so that they remain mechanically sound. The extent and complexity of maintenance will vary enormously, from basic safety checks by the driver before using the vehicle (eg checking that the tyres are properly inflated) to regular preventive maintenance inspections carried out at predetermined intervals of time or mileage.

92 To help identify defects which may occur while the vehicle is in use, the driver will need instruction or training on carrying out appropriate checks, and reporting any defects found. Employers may find it helpful to provide drivers with a list of daily checks for their vehicles.

93 Planned preventive maintenance is also needed to prevent failures occurring while the vehicle is in use. Special attention needs to be paid to the:

(a) braking system;

(b) tyres;

It is important that vehicles are maintained

24

A safe workplace, safe vehicles and safe driver

(c) steering;

(d) mirrors and any fittings that enable the driverto see clearly;

(e) windscreen washers and wipers;

(f) warning signals; and

(g) any specific safety systems, eg controlinterlocks to prevent unintended movementof the vehicle and/or the equipment it carries.

The extent and frequency of preventive94maintenanceshould not be less than the vehiclemanufacturer’s instructions.

95should be taken during vehicle maintenance:

(a)

Wherever relevant, the following precautions

Brakes should be applied and, wherenecessary, wheels chocked. Engines shouldalways be started and run with brakes onand in neutral gear;

Raised bodies should be suitably propped orsupport &;

A means of restraining wheels, such as atyre cage, should be usedwhen inflatingtyres on split rim wheels;

Tyres should be removed from wheels before welding, cutting or heatingworkbegins on a wheel or wheel-rim fitted with atyre, even if the tyre is deflated;

(b)

(c)

(d)

25

Built-in prop for body of tipper lorry


information, instruction and training.

Selection and training of drivers and other employees

97and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires that “employers shall:

(a)

Regulation 13 of the Management of Health

in entrusting tasks to employees, take into account their capabilities as regards health and safety; and

ensure that employees are provided with adequate health and safety training on being recruited into the employer’s undertaking and on being exposed to new or increased risks at the workplace”.

(b)

(e) Beware of the risk of explosion when draining and repairing fuel tanks, and from battery gases. Fuel tanks should never be drained or filled when the equipment is hot or in a confined space, nor should they be drained over a pit;

Care should be taken to avoid short-circuiting batteries. Batteries should be charged in well-ventilated areas. Suitable personal protective equipment should be provided and used for handling battery acid;

Selection of drivers

98be aged 17 or over and have passed a driving test before they can drive vehicles on public roads. Drivers of large or heavy goods vehicles must, with certain exceptions, be aged 21 or over and have passed the appropriate test. It is recommended that the same or, where necessary, higher standards are applied to people employed to drive vehicles at the workplace.

(9) Measures should be taken to avoid 99 Drivers should be capable of operating the vehicle and related equipment safely, and should receive instruction and training as appropriate. They will need a mature and reliable attitude to be capable of performing their duties responsibly and carefully.

With a few exceptions, people in the UK must

(f)

maintenance personnel breathing asbestos dust from brake and clutch lining pads.

Maintenance work should only be done by 96people who have received the relevant

26


100 Employers, managers etc should never allow anyone who is unfit through drink or drugs to drive any vehicle.

101 Where the workplace has contractors or visiting drivers, the site operator or principal employer will usually need to take measures to ensure that they are competent to carry out their duties responsibly and carefully - most likely by obtaining assurances or evidence from the drivers or their employers (see Contractors, visiting drivers and shared workplaces, page 28).

Training

102 A recent study of deaths and injuries involving site dumpers showed that about one third of the drivers had little experience of driving the vehicle they had been operating, and had received no training at all. Less than half their employers had bothered to check the drivers’ competence.

103 Training needs will depend on an individual’s previous experience and the type of work they will be doing. The employers’ risk assessment(see Managing the risks, pages 4-7) should help determine the level and amount of training needed for each type of work. Training needs will usually be greatest when drivers and other employees are newly recruited.

104 It is essential to check what experience individuals have of the vehicles they will be using and the work they will be doing and, where appropriate, to check that the information they give is true. For example, employers will usually need to check that references to training schemes etc are

supported by certificates. Information, instruction and training provided by the employer can then cover aspects of the individuals’ work activities which may be unfamiliar to them.

105 It is likely that training will need to cover:

(a) general information about the job, for example the layout of the workplace routes, how and where to report faults or hazards, and accident reporting procedures;

training and/or checks to ensure that individuals can carry out their work duties safely. For a driver this is likely to include information and instruction on how to operate the vehicle, information about particular hazards, speed limits, the appropriate parking and loading

(b)

27


areas etc. It may be necessary to test trainees on site, even when they produce evidence of previous training or related work experience. It is important to check that trainees understand the information and instruction that they receive; and

information on the management structure and level of supervision that will apply, and the penalties that will be imposed should they fail to comply with instructions and safe working practices.

106 It is important to stress to individuals the risks associated with unsafe working practices, for example driving too fast, turning too sharply or driving on unsafe gradients. They should be instructed to drive and carry out other vehicle- related work activities in a responsible and careful manner. The standard of driving in workplaces should be at least the same as that required on public roads, and in many cases higher. Particular attention will usually need to be given to instructing younger people, as they are more likely to be unfamiliar with a work environment.

107 A planned programme of refresher training will usually be necessary for all drivers and other employees to ensure their continued competence. Also, changes in the work environment or in work activities may mean that drivers or other employees are exposed to new or different risks, requiring further information, instruction or training.

108 Training is particularly important for maintenance and repair work, as these are a major

source of injuries and fatalities. In a study of 56 deaths during vehicle repair work over a three-year period: nine were caused by vehicles falling from jacks or ramps (axle stands or wheel chocks had not been used); five were by electrocution; four from tyres bursting; seven from fire or explosion; and seven from the inadvertent movement of a vehicle part. All these deaths could have been avoided if the staff had been properly trained and had used safe systems of work.

109 It is important to keep training records for each employee. These should include enough information to be able to identify the employee, the nature of the training completed, including refresher training, and a copy or details of any certificates gained.

110 A licensing or authorisation system can beused to check that employees are trained and competent before being allowed to operate particular vehicles. The licence or authorisation is often a simple document with details of the types of vehicles that a person is competent to operate.The information is also usually kept on a central register.

Contractors, visiting drivers andshared workplaces

Contractors/sub-contractors

111 Where contractors or sub-contractors are employed at the workplace, the site operator or principal employer will need to take measures to ensure that their activities fit into the overall

(c)

28


workplace activities without adding undue risks.

112 The site operator or principal employer should check the suitability of the contractor and, through the contractor, any sub-contractor, in terms of health and safety standards. Check for example:

(a)

about the workplace, the routes to be used, the vehicles and equipment on site, particular hazards, and other employees on site, including other contractors, visiting drivers etc) so that the work can be done safely and in compliance with safe working practices.

115 The contractor will also need to be made fully aware of the penalties that will be imposed (usually as a result of breach of requirements in the contract) if standards are not maintained or if there is a failure to comply with safe working practices. It is important to maintain a system of adequate supervision of the contractor’s work.

116 Authorisation systems have proved to be a useful way of controlling the work activities of contractors and sub-contractors. Licences to

that the contractor selects and trains employees to the required standards and that they are suitably competent;

that on previous contracts the contractor has complied with safe working practices. Where possible, check the contractor’s accident and ill-health record; and

that the contractor’s vehicles are suitable for their intended purpose and are, and will continue to be, properly maintained. Some employers inspect contractors’ vehicles before allowing them to operate on site; others insist on a mechanic’s inspection report covering essential safety components. It may also be necessary to carry out spot checks to ensure that vehicles remain safe until the work is finished.

113 Nevertheless, contractors should be in no doubt that they are responsible for their own employees and their activities.

114 The site operator or principal employer will need to provide the contractor with appropriate health and safety information in relation to the work to be carried out (for example information

(b)

(c)

Speed-limit sign

29

A sale workplace, sale vehicles and safe drivers

operate on site are issued for specified periods, and then only renewed if contractors have satisfactorily met the relevant safety standards.

117 When a contractor engages sub-contractors, (a) co-operate with the other employers the contractor can clearly use similar checks and supervision to exercise control over the sub- contractors. The site operator will usually need evidence from the contractor that adequate controls over sub-contractors are in place.

Visiting drivers duties; and

118 Some of the checks in paragraphs 11 1-1 16 will also apply to visiting drivers. It is important to ensure that visiting drivers are aware of the layout of the workplace, the route they need to take, and relevant safe working practices, eg for parking and unloading. Take account of the fact that delivery drivers may visit the site rarely, and may only be on site for a short time. It may also be necessary to allow visiting drivers access to a rest room with lavatory and washing facilities.

119 The employer at a workplace should liaise and co-operate as necessary with the employers of visiting drivers to co-ordinate the measures they (the employers) need to take to comply with their health and safety responsibilities, for example to provide safe access to a vehicle for loading or unloading.

Shared premises

120 Regulation 11 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires that

"where two or more employers share a workplace (whether on a temporary or a permanent basis) each such employer shall:

concerned so far as is necessary to enable them to comply with their health and safety duties;

take all reasonable steps to co-ordinate the measures they take to comply with their legal

(b)

(c) take all reasonable steps to inform the other employers concerned about the risks to their employees' health and safety as a result of their work activities".

121 This obligation also applies to self-employed people engaged in work activities at a shared workplace.

122 The form of co-ordination adopted will depend on the circumstances, but all employers and self-employed people involved will need to satisfy themselves that the measures they take to comply with their legal duties are adequate.

123 Normally the site operator, or a main employer, controls the worksite, and in such cases will take responsibility for co-ordinating the measures, primarily through discussion and byobtaining information from the smaller employers and seeking their agreement to the site-wide arrangements which have been established. All other employers have a responsibility to co-operate.

30


124 Where there is no employer in overallcontrol, individual employers and self-employedpeople will need to find a way of agreeing joint arrangements, for example by appointing a health and safety co-ordinator.Appointing a health and safety supervisor or co-ordinator is likely to be themost effective way of:

(a)

(b)

ensuring co-operation and co-ordination; and

exchanging information efficiently to enable all employers to comply with their health and safety duties (see Organising for safety,

Page 8).

An employee suffered severe bruising injuries when trapped against a door frame by a fork lift truck.

A delivery driver arrived earlier than expected at a factory door. There was no trained fork lift truck driver on site as it was so early. The delivery driver decided to operate the site fork lift truck himself to unload his vehicle. He reversed into pallets and then overcorrected and reversed into the employee.

The operator of the site should have taken measures to ensure that the fork lift truck could only be used by authorised people. The site operator and the driver's employer should have liaised and agreed procedures for unloading delivery vehicles. These procedures should have included fixing a time for vehicles to arrive with deliveries. The driver had a responsibility not to operate a fork lift truckwithout authorisation.

31

Examples of safe working practices

EXAMPLES OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICES

125 This section gives examples of safe workingpractices for particularactivities.

126 There are a number of specific legal duties which are applicable to workplace transport activities. However, the principal legal duty ofemployers is, so far as is reasonably practicable, to provide and maintain safe systems of work,and to take all reasonably practicable precautions to ensure the safety of all workers in the workplace. 131 Where reversing cannot be avoided, vehicle

operations can be organised to minimise the need 127 The previous section covered the for reversing. In site locations where reversing is requirements for co-operation and co-ordination common, wherever possible: where two or more employers, or self-employedpeople, share a workplace. (a)

128 All employees have a legal duty to take care of their own and others’ safety and to co-operatewith management in meeting their obligations.

Reversing of vehicles

129 Nearly a quarter of all deaths involving vehicles at work occur while vehicles are reversing. Many other reversing accidents do not result in injury but cause costly damage to vehicles, equipment and premises. Most of these

accidents happen at low speeds, for example when reversing into loading bays, and can beavoided by taking simple precautions.

130 The most effective way of dealing with the risk of reversing accidents is to remove the need for reversing altogether. This can be done by setting up one-way systems, for example drive-through loading and unloading positions.

‘reversing areas’ should be clearly identified and marked, and be visible to drivers and pedestrians:

non-essential personnel should be excluded f rom the area;

where safe to do so, consider employing a properly trained signaller (banksman), both to keep the reversing area free of pedestrians and to guide drivers through safe manoeuvres. A signaller will need to use a clear, agreed system of signalling, and

(b)

(c)

32


will need to be visible to drivers at all times and stand in a safe position from which to guide the reversing vehicle. Where necessary, signallers should wear high-visibility clothing and ensure that their signals are clearly seen. If drivers lose sight of the signallers they should stop immediately. In some circumstances portable radios or similar communication systems can be helpful. (NB: employers at some workplaces, eg quarries, prohibit the use of signallers due to the size of vehicles involved and the consequent difficulty that drivers have inseeing them.)

132 There are a number of physical steps which can be taken to help reduce the risk of reversing accidents. The following are examples, but it is unlikely that any single measure will be sufficient to ensure safety:

(a) Site layouts can be designed (or modified) to increase the visibility for drivers and pedestrians, for example, by increasing the area allowed for reversing, and installing fixed mirrors in smaller areas;

Most vehicles already have external side-mounted and rear-view mirrors fitted. These need to be kept clean and in good repair. Where appropriate, refractive lenses fitted to rear windows or closed-circuit television systems can be used to enable drivers to see ‘blind spots’ to the rear of vehicles. If, despite such measures and in the absence of a signaller, drivers are unable to see

(b)

Wheel-stop

An employee received crushing injuries to his right leg when a dump truck reversed over him.

The working area was .noisy and the employee was wearing hearing protection. As a result he did not hear the reversing alarm on the dumper. The driver had looked round behind his 72-tonne vehicle before reversing, but had not seen his colleague.

As a result of the accident a camera system was fitted to the truck to enable the driver to see the ‘blind spot’ to the rear of the vehicle.

33


behind the vehicle, they should leave their cab and check behind the vehicle before reversing:

Reversing alarms can be fitted. These should be kept in working order. It is important that the alarm is loud enough and distinct to ensure that it does not become part of the background noise of the workplace. In some circumstances, eg where a reversing alarm might not stand out from the background noise levels, visible systems such as flashing warning lights may be more appropriate:

Other safety devices can be fitted to vehicles. For example, a number of proprietary sensing and trip devices are available which either warn the driver or stop the vehicle when a person is detected in a danger zone or when a person or obstacle has been struck by the rear of the vehicle;

Physical stops such as barriers or buffers at loading bays can be used. Where vehicles reverse up to structures or edges, barriers or wheel stops can be used to warn drivers that they are at the limit of their safe reversing area:

Simple longitudinal guides or white lines on the floor can help the driver position the vehicle accurately.

133 It is important that all visiting drivers are made familiar with the layout of the workplace and

with any site rules with regard to reversing. This can be done by requiring visiting drivers to report their arrival and receive instructions before entering the workplace.

Parking of vehicles

134 Wherever possible, vehicles should be parked on level ground, preferably in a designated parking area. Where parking on a gradient is unavoidable, vehicles should have their brakes applied, and be left in gear (where safe to do so) and wheel-chocks should be used if necessary.

135 Fatal and serious accidents have occurred as a result of drivers leaving their vehicles without ensuring that the vehicle or its trailer were securely braked. Surveys by HSE inspectors have found numerous parked trailers without parking brakes applied and indications that many of the brake mechanisms on such trailers have not been used during the working life of the trailer. Those in control of workplaces where trailers are parked need to take appropriate measures to deter this unsafe practice.

136 It is important that brakes are fully applied when vehicles or their trailers are parked. This is particularly important where children are likely to be in the vicinity (for example, farms). A vehicle should not be left unless the brakes have been firmly applied, any mounted equipment lowered to the ground, the engine stopped, and the starter key removed.

137 Wherever possible, the following practices

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

34


should be followed when coupling an HGV cab or tractor unit to a trailer. Similar procedures should be followed when coupling/uncoupling other vehicle combinations:

(a)

need to ensure that the ground is firm enough to support the landing legs of the trailer (to prevent the trailer becoming unstable).

139 Not all coupling and uncoupling operations take place in daylight. Even when care is taken to ensure that vehicles and trailers cannot move, there remains a significant risk of the driver falling when carrying out coupling or uncoupling operations in the dark. Suitable lighting will need to be provided at the workplace for night work. Where coupling and uncoupling operations take place away from well-lit yards, hauliers can reduce the risks by providing safe and secure access to the area between the cab or tractor and trailer units by means of steps, hand-holds etc, and providing suitable lighting at the rear of the cab.

140 It is important to secure the keys of vehicles left parked in workplaces overnight, at weekends, or at other times when they are unused for long periods.

Access on to vehicles

141 Regulation 13 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires "employersand any other person who has to any extent control over the workplace to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, suitable and effective measures:

(a)

The trailer handbrake should be applied (if fitted). The absence of handbrakes is only acceptable where the air brakes of the trailer are fail-safe and/or alternative measures are taken to prevent movement;

The cab should be reversed slowly under the trailer and a check should be made to ensure that the fifth wheel is engaged (usually by trying to drive forward in a low gear). Any necessary safety clips should be fitted;

The parking brake of the cab should be applied;

All brake hoses and the electrical supply to the trailer should be reconnected;

The trailer landing legs should be wound up and the handle secured;

The number plates should be fitted and the lights checked;

The trailer handbrake should be released (if fitted) .

138 The procedure for uncoupling is usually the reverse of the coupling procedure, but before leaving the cab the driver will need to check that the cab's brake is applied. The driver will also

(b)'

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

to prevent any person falling a distance likely to cause personal injury: and

to prevent any person being struck by a falling object likely to cause a personal injury".

(b)

35


which, and under conditions for which, it is suitable”.

143 Getting on and off larger vehicles, for example for activities such as loading and unloading, sheeting, cleaning, maintenance etc, can lead to falls causing injury and fatality.

144 Access on to vehicles should be restricted to those people permitted to do so. No one should attempt to gain access while a vehicle is in motion (this is a significant cause of accidents each year). Passengers in particular should only be allowed on a vehicle if it is designed to accommodate them safely, with suitable seating.

Ladder and platform for safe access for sheeting

142 Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires that:

(a) “every employer shall ensure that work road tankers.

145 Wherever possible, the need for people to climb on top of vehicles should be avoided. For example, ‘bottom filling’ and fitting level gauges and controls, which are accessible from ground level, avoid the need for drivers to climb on top of

equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided;

146 Gantries at permanent loading stations also avoid the need to climb on top of vehicles.

(b) in selecting work equipment, every employer 147 Regulation 9 of the Management of Health shall have regard to the working conditions and to the risks to the health and safety of persons which exist in the premises or undertaking in which that work equipment is to be used and any additional risk posed by the use of that work equipment; and

every employer shall ensure that work equipment is used only for operations for

and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires that “where the activities of different employers interact, for example where they share a workplace, the different employers may need to co-operate with each other and co-ordinate their preventive and protective measures to ensure that their respective obligations are met”.

148 The employer of drivers who visit a particular (c)

36


workplace may need to liaise with the employer at that workplace to decide what measures are necessary for them to comply with their legal duties. The examples in paragraph 149 relate directly to road tankers but the principles are equally applicable to other large vehicles and large items of plant operated within workplaces.

149 Serious injuries have occurred as a result of falls from tankers during delivery and ‘dipping’ at petrol stations. In such cases, and in accordance with the above legal duties, both the employer of the tanker driver and the proprietor of the petrol station have a duty to assess the risks and to take appropriate preventive and protective measures:

(a) In the first place, the employer of the tanker driver needs to assess whether ‘dipping’ and top access are necessary or whether suitable measuring and unloading can be done from ground level:

Where this is not practical, and permanent safe access to the top of the tanker is not provided (ie via a handrailed walkway permanently fitted to the tanker), an alternative means of safe access will need to be provided. For example, the petrol station proprietor can provide a suitable set of step ladders, allowing access and ‘dipping’ from a safe position. (c) wherever possible, walkways should be

150 Where people have to gain access to the top of a road tanker:

(a)

properly constructed ladder placed on the front or back of the tank. The ladder should provide the most convenient access to the relevant part of the tank top, minimising the need for walkways;

ladders should be of sound construction, properly maintained and securely fixed. Rungs should be horizontal and give adequate foothold. Ladders should usually be vertical or slope inwards towards the top; and

(b)(b)

made of the open type of non-slip grating or of non-slip material to give the best possible grip in all conditions. Suitable guard-railsmay be needed. They should comprise top and intermediate rails for protecting people wherever possible, access should be via a

37


An experienced HGV driver fractured hischeekbone when he fell approximately fourmetres from the top of a stack of pallets loadedon to a flat-bed trailer. He had climbed on top ofthe stack of pallets to release a snagged ropeused for securing the pallets.

A safe means of access to the top of the palletsto release the snagged rope should have beenused, for example a ladder. Climbing on top ofloads should be avoided wherever possible.The employer is responsible for instructingemployees on the use of safe working practices.

working in a crouching position. Collapsiblehandrails are becoming a more commonfeature on new vehicles.

151 Many vehicles and items of mobile plant, forexample high-sided tipping or bulk dischargevehicles, do not incorporate the features describedabove. Operators may need to consider retro-fitting additional features and facilities, or resortingto alternative methods of access that are not fittedto the vehicle. If features are retro-fitted, care willneed to be taken to ensure that the new safetyfeatures do not affect the integrity of thevehicle/tank/mobile equipment, or that the actualoperation of retro-fitting does not involve unduerisks, for example welding on petrol tankers.

Loading and unloading

152 Accidents can occur during loading andunloading of vehicles, for example employees

being struck by part of a falling load, being struckor run over by a moving or overturning vehicle, orfalling from a height.

153 The following procedures should be followedwhere applicable:

(a) Loading/unloading should be carried out inan area away from passing traffic,pedestrians and other people not involved inthe loading/unloading operation;

(b) Loading/unloading should not take place sonear to overhead electric cables that there isa possibility of making contact with them, orof electric arcing between the cables andvehicles and/or loading equipment;

(c) Loading/unloading operations should neverbe carried out on gradients steep enough tomake the operation unsafe. To maintainstability, trailers should be situated on firmground which is free from pot-holes or debriswhich could cause vehicles and trailers tooverturn;

(d) It may be necessary to safeguard againstmechanical hazards from equipment usedduring loading and unloading operations, forexample dock levellers or vehicle tail lifts.The main hazards are likely to be trapping orentanglement in mechanical parts of theequipment. Appropriate safeguards mightinclude guards or skirt plates to preventaccess to dangerous parts;

38


(e) Loading/unloading should be carried out in 156 When visiting drivers are not needed for such a way that, as far as possible, the load is spread evenly. Uneven distribution can result in the vehicle or trailer becoming unstable, especially if it is an articulated or similar type of trailer which has been detached from the powered unit;

Ensure the vehicle or trailer has its brakesapplied and/or is stabilised, as appropriate, to prevent unsafe movements during loading and unloading operations. (a) No vehicle should, under any circumstances,

154 Incidents have occurred where drivers have driven away from a loading bay before unloading operations have been completed. It is important that measures are taken to prevent this happening. The use of suitable vehicle/trailer restraints or the installation of traffic lights can be particularly effective. Alternatively, a system of work may be employed where the person in charge of loading/unloading operations keeps possession of the vehicle keys andlor consignment paperwork until the operation has been completed and it is safe for the vehicle to be moved. Such safeguardswould be especially important where there may becommunication problems, eg where foreign drivers are involved.

155 In some workplaces it may be practical toinstall an inertia reel fall-arrest system. With this type of system the people involved in loading/unloading operations wear harnesses linked to overhead rails in the loading bay. In the event of a slip the inertia reel locks, preventing a fall. (d) Suitable systems should be used to prevent

loading or unloading, it is often useful to provide a safe place where they can wait. Drivers should not remain in their cabs if they are likely to be exposed to danger, eg from the risk of goods falling on to the cab.

157 In conjunction with paragraph 153, thefollowing procedures should be followed when loading vehicles:

(f)

be loaded beyond its rated capacity, or its legal limit of gross weight if it is to be used on public roads - otherwise it may become unstable, difficult to steer or have its braking efficiency impaired;

Before loading, the floor or deck of the vehicle will need to be checked! eg for damaged or loose boards or obstructions, to ensure that it is safe to load;

The method and sequence of loading should allow for safe unloading. Loads should be evenly distributed, and secured or arranged so that they do not slide forward if the driver has to brake suddenly, or slide off if the vehicle has to negotiate steep hills. Where loads of a particular type are carried regularly, it may be necessary to provide racking to aid load stability. Agricultural trailers can be especially unstable if incorrectly loaded;

(b)

(c)

39


trailers tipping up during loading or affecting the stability of a tractor/trailer combination during movement; 160 Some goods, for example cotton bales, are

difficult to restrain during transport. Hauliers and Loads should be suitably packaged. Where recipients of these loads will need to exchange pallets are used, the consignor will need to details of the loads in advance so that they can check that they are in good condition and that develop safe systems of work for unloading. One loads are properly secured on to them. Loads particular hazard is that of improperly secured will often need to be securely attached to loads, causing doors of vehicles, trailers or freight vehicles to ensure that they cannot fall off. containers to spring open with considerable force, Detailed methods of securing loads safely and loads to spill out. In such cases it is often can be found in Safety of loads on vehicles4 necessary to use an effective method of restraining and Safety in the use of pallets5; the doors so that they can be opened safely.

Tail boards and side boards should be Tipping of loads closed wherever possible. If over-hang cannot be avoided, it should be kept to a 161 A significant number of tipping vehicles, minimum and the projecting part of the load including rigid body lorries, tipping trailers and should be suitably marked. tankers, overturn each year with the potential for

fatal accidents. The following guidance should help 158 Clear and unambiguous systems of work for avoid such accidents: unloading vehicles need to be established and understood by both the company delivering goods (a) and the recipient. For example, if visiting drivers at retail premises are expected to unload their vehicles themselves, arrangements will need to be agreed in advance between the haulier and the occupier of the workplace, and the drivers should receive the necessary instructions, equipment and co-operation for unloading their vehicles safely.

159 In conjunction with the procedures in paragraph 153, appropriate checks will need to be made before unloading to ensure that loads have not moved during transit, and are not likely to fall out when doors are opened, curtain sides

removed, and ropes, sheets and banding taken off.

(e)

(f)

Where applicable, drivers visiting a site should be required to report to the site operator for any relevant site instructions before commencing tipping operations.

The site operator and the visiting driver need to liaise and co-operate, for example to make arrangements to keep non-essential personnel away from the tipping area.

Tipping operations should be carried out on ground that is level and stable, and at a location free from overhead hazards such as power lines, pipework etc. The vehicle

(b)

(c)

40


should remain level if it is moved forward during tipping. Articulated vehicles should always be tipped with the tractor unit and trailer in line.

At sites which are not level and stable (such as waste disposal sites) the site operator will need to ensure that tipping faces are suitable and safe for the vehicles used in tipping operations, for example by ensuring that the faces are compacted, and that there are no significant side slopes.

Wherever possible, and particularly where reversing operations are being undertaken, suitably sized wheel-stops (large enough to let the driver know that he has reached the

(d)

(e)

A self-employed lorry driver fractured his leg when scrap steel fell from the trailer of his vehicle.

Some scrap steel had stuck in the trailer of the vehicle after tipping. The driver re-tipped the trailer and then, without lowering the trailer, walked round behind it to check that the scrap was discharged. As he did so some scrap dislodged and fell on to him.

When he realised that some scrap had stuck in the trailer, the driver should have lowered the body of the trailer and freed the remaining load before re-tipping the load. The employer is responsible for ensuring that drivers use safe working practices.

41


limit of reversing) should be used to help position vehicles correctly for safe tipping. For tipping over unsupported embankments or faces, the wheel-stop will need to be far enough from the edge to prevent the weight of the vehicle causing the ground to collapse.

should never leave the vehicle and should ensure that the cab doors are closed. The use of ‘donkey engines’ to drive the tipping mechanism is not ideal as the driver has to remain outside the cab and in a potentially dangerous area during discharge of the load.

(f) Before tipping operations start, the driver (i) Drivers should be sufficiently experienced to may need to check that the load is evenly distributed across the vehicle. This is particularly important where the load might have slipped sideways, or too far forward, risking overloading of the tipping gear. The driver may also need to check that the load will discharge smoothly and safely and that it cannot jam under the tailgate if the load is higher than the top of the tailgate. Rear doors of the ‘barn door’ type should be secured in the open position. Some loads are particularly prone to sticking or ‘banging up’ in the vehicle. Mechanical aids such as vibratory discharge systems may be needed in such cases.

The tailgate should be released before tipping, and removed if necessary. Where tailgates are not removed.and the load discharges through an aperture or hatch, the tailgate latch or securing mechanism should be sufficiently robust to withstand the impact of a released load. The driver should never stand or walk immediately behind the vehicle, or allow anyone to do so, when the body is raised or during tipping.

When raising or lowering the body, the driver

anticipate loads sticking or ‘freezing’ in the body. If this happens, the body needs to be lowered and the remaining load freed before the body is raised again. The vehicle should never be driven in order to shake free a stuck load.

After discharge the operator should always ensure that the body is completely empty. The driver should not drive more than a few metres forward to ensure the load is clear, and should only do this after checking that the load is at the bottom of the tipped body.

162 If the vehicle begins to topple over, the driver should brace him/herself against the back of the driver’s seat and hold firmly on to the steering wheel. The driver should never try to jump out of a lorry that is falling over.

163 Vehicles should not come into contact with power cables. However, if this does happen, and the situation cannot be made safe immediately, the driver should leave the vehicle by jumping clear. The driver should not make contact with the ground and the vehicle at the same time as this would complete an electrical circuit and cause serious injury. The driver should then ensure that

(i)

(9)

(h)

42


no-one else comes into contact with the vehicle while it is touching the power cable.

Sheeting and unsheeting of loads

164 Sheeting and unsheeting of loads can be hazardous, particularly when it is carried out manually. The person doing the work can slip or lose their grip and fall while sheeting or unsheeting loads, or walking on top of loads. Falls have also resulted from torn sheets and breaking ropes.

165 Effective measures are necessary to deal with the risks. The measures will depend on the type of load being sheeted/unsheeted, the type of vehicle, the frequency of sheeting/unsheeting, and the characteristics of the workplace.

166 Is it possible to use vehicles that do not require sheeting? If not, is it possible to use mechanical or proprietary sheeting systems? These can be either fully or semi-automatic, and are generally purpose-built assemblies attached to the vehicle body. They enable the load to be sheeted and unsheeted from ground level using simple mechanical aids such as a crank hand le, or automatically via controls in the driver’s cab.

167 Automatic systems can be electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically powered and can work by unrolling sheeting from the front to the back of the vehicle body; unrolling sheets from side to side; sliding the sheet along runners or wires from front to back or side; and levering or ‘flipping’ the sheets from centre to side or from front to back.

Example of mechanically operated sheeting system

Manual sheeting system operated from ground

43


168 Apart from reducing risks to drivers and other employees, mechanical sheeting systems avoid the need for sheeting areas, special gantries or platforms at the premises from which loads are dispatched. There is also likely to be a fuel saving with a more streamlined load.

169 Where manual sheeting is unavoidable, the need for a person to go on top of the load should be avoided wherever possible. For example, where sheeting is done frequently it may be reasonably practicable to provide platforms from which loads can be sheeted without the need to climb on the vehicle or load. Most sheeting platforms are simple drive-through systems providing a handrailed platform on each side of the vehicle. If platforms are provided there should be enough of them for the through-put of vehicles, and management systems should be in place to ensure that the platforms are used properly.

170 Whichever system is used:

(a)

eye and head protection should be provided and used by people engaged in sheeting and unsheeting activities.

171 Where it is necessary to gain access to the load, a safe means of access should be provided, ie a suitable ladder and hand-grips. Mud-guardsand wheels should not be used as steps. In some workplaces it may be practical to install an inertia reel fall-arrest system.

172 For manual sheeting, the following practice is recommended:

(a) The sheet should already be suitably folded in a position to the front of the vehicle body on a sheet rack or purpose-built shelf or on carrier hooks. Sheets will need to be large enough to cover the load with at least 150 mm (6) overlap of the tail-gate and sides. Ropes and straps will need to be long enough to be tied to the base of the vehicle body and be of sufficient weight to resist being blown in the wind.

The driver should walk down the centre of the load rolling out the folded top sheet while facing the rear of the vehicle body. When half way along the load, or in any event no closer than two metres from the rear of the vehicle, the driver should turn round and pull the sheet tight. It is important that the sheet is not pulled at any other time.

The driver should turn round and while facing the rear of the vehicle throw the remainder of

sheeting and unsheeting operations need to be carried out in designated parts of the workplace, away from passing traffic and pedestrians and, where possible, sheltered from strong winds and bad weather. Extra care will need to be taken in wet or icy conditions;

vehicles should be parked on level ground, with their parking brakes on and the ignition key removed; and

gloves, safety boots, and where necessary

(b)

(b)

(c)(c)

44


the sheet and ties over the tail-gate. While standing in the centre of the load the driver should open out the sheet, throwing the sheet and ties over the sides of the body. The driver should then return to the front of the body walking forwards along the centre of the load and return to the ground using the ladder and handles provided. The driver should never jump from the body or use wheels as makeshift steps.

The sheet should be pulled tight from ground level and the ropes secured to the body hooks.

173 For manual unsheeting, the following practice is recommended:

(a)

(d)

After untying ropes/traps first, the driver should climb up using a safe means of access and, standing on the centre of the load and facing the edge of the body, fold in the sides of the sheet.

(b) Then, facing the tail-gate and standing at least one metre from the edge of the body, the driver should pull in the rear of the sheet.

Facing the cab, the driver should then roll up the sheet and secure it on to the sheet-rack or carrier hook. This leaves the sheet in a condition for safe sheeting as outlined in paragraph 172.

174 Ropes and sheets can break or rip so the driver should avoid leaning backwards when pulling the sheet tight and should never do so at the end of the vehicle body. When pulling sheeting, the driver should always have one foot behind the other to avoid overbalancing.

(c)

45

Appendices

APPENDIX 1 C he c k 1 is t

The following checklist is intended as a guide to indicate the areas that employers should look at when:

(a) trying to identify the hazards associated with bends?

Are there suitable parking areas for all parking needs?

Do the vehicle routes avoid sharp or blind

vehicle activities; and

assessing whether existing precautions are adequate or whether more precautions are needed.

Is there scope for introducing a one-way system on vehicle routes within the workplace to reduce the risk of collisions?

Check that vehicle traffic routes are suitable

(b)

2for the type and quantity of vehicles which use them. For example:

It also gives some commonsense ideas for reducing the risk. The checklist will not necessarily be comprehensive or relevant for all work situations. Are they wide enough?

The workplace

1for the vehicle and pedestrian activities at theworkplace. For example: hazards?

Are vehicles and pedestrians kept safely Are they well maintained?

Are they well constructed, ie do they have firm and even surfaces?

Are they free from obstructions and other Check that the layout of routes is appropriate

apart?

Are there suitable pedestrian crossing points on vehicle routes?

3provided where appropriate. For example:

Check that suitable safety features are

Are roadways marked where necessary, e g

46

Appendices

to indicate the right of way at road junctions?

Is there a need for direction signs, speed limit signs and, where applicable, signs such as Give way, No entry etc?

Is there a need for features such as fixed mirrors to provide greater vision at blind bends, road humps to reduce vehicle speeds, or barriers to keep vehicles and pedestrians apart?

Do drivers need protection against bad weather conditions, or against an unpleasant working environment, ie the cold, dirt, dust, fumes, and excessive noise and vibration?

Is there a safe means of access to and exit from the cabs and other parts that need to be reached?

Is there a need for driver protection against injury in the event of an overturn, and to prevent the driver being hit by falling

The vehicles objects?

4the work for which they are being used. For example: example:

Check that vehicles are safe and suitable for 5appropriate maintenance procedures. For

Check that the vehicles are subject to

Do they have suitable and effective service and parking brakes?

Do the drivers carry out basic safety checks before using vehicles?

Do they have windscreens with wipers, and Is there a regular preventive maintenance programme for each vehicle, carried out at predetermined intervals of time or mileage?

suitable external mirrors to provide optimum all-round visibility?

Are they provided with horns, lights, reflectors, reversing lights and other safety features as necessary? 6 Check that your selection and training

Do they have seats and, where necessary, seat belts that are safe and provide driver comfort?

Are there guards on dangerous parts of the vehicles, eg power take-offs, chain drives, exposed exhaust pipes?

Drivers and other employees

procedures ensure that your drivers and other employees are capable of performing their work activities safely and responsibly. For example:

Do you check the previous experience of your drivers and test them to ensure they are competent?

47

Appendices

Do you provide training on how to performthe job, and information about particularhazards, speed limits, the appropriateparking and loading areas etc?

Do you have a planned programme ofrefresher training for drivers and otheremployees to ensure their continued competence?

7 Check what your drivers and otheremployeesactually do when undertakingtheirwork activities. For example:

Are your employees using safe working practices,eg when loading/unloading, securing loads, carrying out maintenance etc?

Are your drivers and other employees havingto rush to complete their work on time, or isthere a risk of accidents caused by fatigue as a result of excessive working hours?

8 Check, in consultation with your employees, that your level of management control/supervision is suitable. For example:

.Are your supervisors, drivers and other employees, including contractors and visiting drivers, aware of the site rules and aware of their responsibilities in terms of maintaining a safe workplace and safe working practices?

Is everyone at the workplace supervised and held accountable for their responsibilities, and is a clear system of penalties enforced when employees, contractors etc fail to maintain standards?

Do your drivers drive with care, eg use thecorrect routes, drive within the speed limit and follow any other site rules?

Do they park safely and in safe locations?

Vehicle activities

9 Check that the need for REVERSINGmanoeuvres is kept to a minimum, and wherereversing is necessary that it is undertaken safely and in safe areas. For example:

Is there scope for introducing one-waysystems on routes to reduce the need forreversing manoeuvres?

48

Appendices

Can you exclude non-essential personnel from areas where reversing is common?

Is there a need to clearly identify and mark ‘reversing areas’ to be clear to both drivers and pedestrians?

Is there a need for a signaller (banksman) to direct reversing vehicles?

Are there external side-mounted and rear- view mirrors on the vehicles to provide optimum all-round visibility?

Do the vehicles have reversing alarms?

10 Check that drivers take care when PARKING their vehicles, including their own private cars, and that they park in safe locations. For example:

using safe systems of work on ground using safe systems of work that is flat, firm and free from pot-holes?

Are the vehicles braked and/or stabilised, as appropriate, to prevent unsafe movements during loading and unloading operations?

Is loading/unloading carried out so that, asfar as possible, the load is spread evenly to avoid the vehicle or trailer becoming unstable?

Are checks made to ensure that loads are secured and arranged so that they cannot move about, eg slide forward if the driver has to brake suddenly, or slide off if the vehicle has to negotiate steep inclines?

Are there checks to ensure that vehicles are not loaded beyond their capacity?

Check that TIPPING operations are carried

Do your drivers use the designated parking areas?

Do they always ensure that their vehicles and trailers are braked and secured before leaving them parked?

12out safely. For example:

Do visiting drivers report to the site manager for any relevant instructions prior to

11 Check that LOADING AND UNLOADING commencing tipping operations? operations are carried out safely. For example:

Are loading/unloading operations carried out tipping areas? Are non-essential personnel excluded from

in an area away from passing traffic, pedestrians and others not involved in the loading/unloading operation?

Are tipping operations undertaken on ground that is level and stable, and at a location free from overhead hazards such as power lines,

Are loading/unloading activities carried out pipework etc?

49

Appendices

Where sites are not level and stable, are the 13tipping faces safe for vehicles involved in operations are carried out safely. For example: tipping operations, eg compacted and withno significant side slopes? Are sheeting and unsheeting operations

Is there a need for suitably sized wheel-stopswhere vehicles need to reverse prior to tipping? weather?

Are tailgates released prior to tipping, and removed when necessary?

Do drivers check that their loads are evenly distributed across the vehicle prior to commencing tipping operations?

Check that SHEETING AND UNSHEETING

carried out in safe parts of the workplace, away from passing traffic and pedestrians and sheltered from strong winds and bad

Are the vehicles parked on level ground, with their parking brakes on and the ignition key removed?

Are gloves, safety boots and, wherenecessary, eye and head protection provided, and used by those engaged in the

Are the drivers sufficiently experienced to sheeting/unsheeting operations? anticipate loads st icking?

Do drivers always ensure that the body is completely empty, and drive no more than afew metres forward to ensure the load is clear? Where manual sheeting is unavoidable, is

Is there scope for using proprietary sheeting systems to avoid the need for manual sheeting?

there a system in place which avoids the need for a person to climb on the vehicle or load, ie by providing a platform from whichloads can be sheeted?

50

Appendices

APPENDIX 2Legislation applicable to transport safety

The following is the principal legislation andsupporting guidance applicable to transport safetyat the workplace:

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974Stationery Office ISBN 0 10 543774 3

A guide to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 7974 HSE Books 1990 ISBN 0 7176 0441 1

Management of Health and Safety at WorkRegulations 1999 (SI 199913242) StationeryOfficeISBN 0 11 085625 2

Management of health and safety at work.Management of Healthand Safety at WorkRegulations 1999. Approved Code of Practiceandguidance E 1 HSE Books 2000 ISBN0 7176 2488 9

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 7992(SI 1992/3004) Stationery OfficeISBN0 11025804 5

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations. Approved Codeof Practice and guidance E 4 HSE Books 1992 ISBN0 7176 0413 6

7998 (SI 199812306) Stationery OfficeISBN 0 11 079599 7

Safe use of work equipment. Provision and Use ofWork Equipment Regulations 1998. Approved

Code of Practice and guidance L22 HSE Books1998 ISBN 0 7176 1626 6

Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 (SI 1977/500) StationeryOfficeISBN 0 11 070500 9

Safety representatives and safety committees (The Brown Book). Code of Practiceand guidance L87HSE Books 1996 ISBN0 7176 1220 1

TrafficSigns Regulations and General Directions 1994 (SI 1994/1519) Stationery OfficeISBN 0 11 044519 8

Reporting of Injuries. Diseases and DangerousOccurrences Regulations 7995 (SI 199513163)Stationery Office ISBN 0 11 053751 3

Guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases andDangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995HSEBooks 1999 ISBN 0 7176 2431 5

There is other sector specific legislationapplicableto workplace transport safety, for example theFactoriesAct 1961, the Docks Regulations1988,the Quarry Vehicles Regulations1970, the

the Agriculture (Avoidanceof Accidents toChildren) Regulations1958.

Provision and Use Of work Equipment Regulations Agriculture (TractorCabs) Regulations 1974and

51

Appendices

REFERENCES AND FURTHER GUIDANCE References

1 Danger, vehicles at work HSE video (Ref UK4310), available from HSE Videos, PO Box 35, Wetherby, West Yorks LS23 7EX, tel: 0845 741 941 1, fax: 01 937 541 083

2HSE Books 1997 ISBN 0 7176 0594 9

3 Health and safety in motor vehicle repair HSG 67 HSE Books 1997 ISBN 0 7176 04837

4Transport) HSE Books 1984 2nd edISBN 0 11 550666 7

5ISBN 0 7176 1522 7

Further guidance

Safetyin working with lift trucks HSG 6 HSE Books 2000 ISBN 0 7176 1781 5

Successful health and safety management HSG65HSE Books 1997 ISBN 0 7176 1276 7

Health and safety in retail and wholesale

warehouses HSG76 HSE Books 1992 ISBN 0 11 885731 2

Reversing vehicles INDG148 HSE Books 1993 (single copies free; ISBN 0 7176 1063 2 for priced packs of 15 copies)

Safe working with small dumpers HSE Books 1983 ISBN 0 11 883693 5

Working platforms on fork lift trucks HSE Books 2000 ISBN 0 71 76 1233 3

Safe handling of bales HSE Books 1994 ISBN 0 71 76 0692 9

Rider operated lift trucks - operator training

Books 1999 ISBN 0 71 76 2455 2

Tractor action INDG185 HSE Books 1995 (single copies free; ISBN 0 7176 0920 0 for priced packs of ten copies)

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the references listed in this publication, their future availability cannot be guaranteed.

Storage of LPG at fixed installations HSG34

Safety of loads on vehicles (Department of

Safety in the use of pallets HSE Books 1998 Approved Code of Practice and guidance HSE

Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive C25 8/00

52

MAIL ORDERHSE priced and freepublications areavailable from:HSE BooksPO Box 1999SudburySuffolk CO10 2WATel: 01787 881165Fax:01787 313995

£7.50

ISBN 0-7176-0935-9

Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk

RETAILHSE priced publicationsare available fromgood booksellers

HEALTH AND SAFETY ENQUIRIESHSE InfoLineTel: 08701 545500or write to:HSE Information CentreBroad LaneSheffield S3 7HQWebsite: www hse.gov.uk

HSG136)

HSEBOOKS - Aberystwyth University · Risk assessment 18 The purpose of a risk assessment is to help...

Documents

Transcript of HSEBOOKS - Aberystwyth University · Risk assessment 18 The purpose of a risk assessment is to help...