Transport Workplace

Transport Workplace Management responsibilities

By law, employers and duty holders must know what hazards and risks are in their workplaces and take steps to eliminate or reduce these risks.

Key messages

By law, employers and duty holders must:

• know what hazards and risks are in their workplaces; and
• take steps to eliminate or reduce these risks

These pages show employers in workplace transport what their responsibilities are, and how they can work with employees to control and reduce risks in the workplace.

Summary

• Identify health and safety requirements in the supply chain at the contract stage.
• Communicate these requirements to all those involved, including suppliers, hauliers, and agency and contract drivers.
• Have systems in place to check that agency and contract workers and delivery drivers all meet safety requirements.
• Think about health and safety before you make any changes in the workplace, for example, using new vehicles or changing in how the work is done. Think what changes might be necessary to procedures if a driver or operator has become disabled
• Ensure that you are up to date and can give up to date advice to your employees eg smoking in vehicles.

For hauliers, safety of the load, the vehicle and the driver are paramount. There are more than sufficient rules and regulations in place for operators of HGVs and those who drive them, to manage the operational process safely and efficiently. Therefore the key elements are:

• Safe Vehicles
• Safe loading and unloading practices
• Safe drivers

SAFE VEHICLES

By law, every employer must:

• make sure that work equipment (which includes vehicles) is suitable for its purpose;
• take account of the working conditions; and
• assess the risks to the health and safety of using chosen work equipment

Your specification for a workplace vehicle should include answers to these questions:

• Does the driver have good all-round visibility?
• What warning systems (such as horns and lights) are fitted?
• Are the seat belts and restraints safe and comfortable and do they meet the needs of the job?
• What safeguards will prevent people from coming into contact with dangerous parts of the vehicle such as power take-offs, chain drives, exposed hot exhaust pipes?
• Can drivers get in and out of the cab safely and easily?
• What protection is there from bad weather, extremes of temperature, dirt, dust and fumes?
• Is there a way to prevent injury if the vehicle overturns? For example, roll protection, operator restraints or falling object protection?
• Is there a way to prevent the vehicle from moving? For example, by applying brakes and removing the keys?
• Is the vehicle bright enough to be seen?
• Do the vehicle lights provide enough light for the driver to work?

The design of vehicles used on public roads has to meet specific legal standards, set out in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations. The overall standard of vehicles used in workplaces should be at least as good as for public roads.

SAFE LOADING/UNLOADING PRACTICES

Loading and unloading can be dangerous. Machinery can seriously hurt people. Heavy loads, moving or overturning vehicles and working at height can all lead to injuries or death.

Guidance

Loading and unloading areas should be:

• Clear of other traffic, pedestrians and people not involved in loading or unloading.
• Clear of overhead electric cables so there is no chance touching them, or of electricity jumping to ‘earth’ through machinery, loads or people.
• Level. To maintain stability, trailers should be parked on firm level ground,
• Loads should be spread as evenly as possible, during both loading and unloading. Uneven loads can make the vehicle or trailer unstable.
• Loads should be secured, or arranged so that they do not slide around. Racking may help stability.
• Safety equipment must be considered. Mechanical equipment and heavy moving loads are dangerous.
  • Guards or skirting plates may be necessary if there is a risk of anything being caught in machinery, (for example dock levellers or vehicle tail lifts). There may be other mechanical dangers and safety procedures to be considered.
• Ensure the vehicle or trailer has its brakes applied and all stabilisers are used. The vehicle should be as stable as possible.
• In some workplaces, it may be possible to install a harness system to protect people working at height. Provide a safe place where drivers can wait if they are not involved. Drivers should not remain in their cabs if this can be avoided. No one should be in the loading/unloading area if they are not needed.
• Vehicles must never be overloaded. Overloaded vehicles can become unstable, difficult to steer or be less able to brake.
• Always check the floor or deck of the loading area before loading to make sure it is safe. Look out for debris, broken boarding, etc.
• Loading should allow for safe unloading.
• Loads must be suitably packaged. When pallets are used, the driver needs to check that:
  • They are in good condition
  • Loads are properly secured to them.
  • Loads are safe on the vehicle. They may need to be securely attached to make sure they cannot fall off.
• Tailgates and sideboards must be closed when possible. If over-hang cannot be avoided, it must be kept to a minimum. The over-hanging part of the load must be clearly marked.

If more than one company is involved, they should agree in advance how loading and unloading will happen.

• For example, if visiting drivers unload their vehicles themselves, they must receive the necessary instructions, equipment and co-operation for safe unloading. Arrangements will need to be agreed in advance between the haulier and the recipient.
• Some goods are difficult to secure during transport. Hauliers and recipients will need to exchange information about loads in advance so that they can agree safe unloading procedures.
• Checks must be made before unloading to make sure loads have not shifted during transit, and are not likely to move or fall when restraints are removed.

There must be safeguards against drivers accidentally driving away too early. This does happen, and is extremely dangerous. Measures could include:

• Traffic lights.
• The use of vehicle or trailer restraints.
• The person in charge of loading or unloading could keep hold of the vehicle keys or paperwork until it is safe for the vehicle to be moved.

These safeguards would be especially effective where there could be communication problems, for example, where foreign drivers are involved.

SAFE DRIVERS

Employers should make sure that people working with vehicles are aware of dangers and safety precautions, and should monitor vehicle use.

Good practice

• No one should ever try to climb onto a moving vehicle.
• Passengers should only be allowed on a vehicle if it is designed to accommodate them safely, with suitable seating and restraints.
• People climbing onto vehicles or other structures should always use the ‘three-point hold’ rule.
• People walking on vehicles should always do so carefully, facing in the direction they are walking and keeping their feet well apart and free to move. They should pay attention to the stability and grip of the surfaces they are walking on.
• To keep their balance, people working with vehicles should not lean backwards, especially near the back of a vehicle (for example, during sheeting).
• No one should rely on ropes, sheets or loads to support their weight, as they can rip, tear or move.
• People should only rest their weight on equipment if that is what it is intended for and it is known to be safe. If a sheet, rope or strap needs to be pulled tight, the operator should try to keep one foot behind the other, and keep control of their weight.

Neatness

An obstruction in the cab or elsewhere is a very common cause of falls, and spilt loads can be dangerous. Vehicles should be kept as clean and tidy as possible, and especially free from grease or oil on walking or other support surfaces, such as any platform area behind the cab.

Access

People should never use parts of the vehicle not designed as hand or footholds (such as mudguards, bumpers, tracks, hooks) to gain access to any part of a vehicle. Parts of the vehicle not designed to support weight may give way, and their surfaces are likely to be unsuitable.

When getting down from the vehicle, people should use the steps or ladder provided. Workers should not jump down, as this can cause slips and falls, or can lead to injuries like sprained or broken ankles, or long-term knee complaints. The exception to this is workers jumping clear of vehicles where there is a risk of electric shock should they climb down.

Footwear

People involved in working with or around vehicles should always wear appropriate footwear, which is in good condition and has good tread and ankle support. Where a risk assessment shows that people need to wear a certain type of footwear that footwear is considered personal protective equipment and so needs to be provided and maintained free of charge to the worker.

Fall protection

In some workplaces it may be practical to fit a harness system to protect people working at height, such as a ‘work-restraint’ or an ‘inertia-reel fall-arrest’ system, where harnesses are worn linked to overhead rails.

If you provide ‘fall-arrest’ systems, think about using signs to show that they must be used. You must also supervise and monitor their use. You must consider maintenance and provide training to users.

If there is a possibility of a fall, by law you must plan for the rescue of anyone who has fallen.

There is more guidance on working safely at height in the HSE site work at height.

Source – Health & Safety Executive