edp
Management Systems for Health, Safety + Environment
health, safety and environment consultants
Unsafe Loads
Safety Checks on Vehicles
During a recent 3-day survey, the Health and Safety Executive, working with VOSA (the Vehicle Operator Services Agency), carried out safety checks on 40 vehicles in the Wrexham, Birmingham and Humberside areas.
Their findings raise concerns for any organisation that moves goods around the country by road.
The loads on more than three quarters of the vehicles were found to be unsafe. Perhaps surprisingly, the actions needed to make most of the loads safe could be carried out by the drivers themselves in only a few minutes. Without remedial action the loads constituted risks either for other road users or for those responsible for loading and unloading the vehicles.
Although the sample was small, the high proportion that were found to be unsafe is of concern, especially when it required little effort to make them safe.
Accident Statistics
This exercise was carried out against the appalling backdrop of more than 2000 injuries over the last three years from cargo falling from vehicles when being loaded or unloaded. This figure included 14 fatal accidents.
In regard to the findings, a spokesperson for the HSE stated:
“Although this was a relatively small number of checks the proportion of vehicles with a problem is alarming. The fatal and serious injuries suffered during loading and unloading are needless tragedies and lives are often shattered as a result. Taking simple safety measures can avoid this misery.
Vehicles which are loaded safely for the road can usually be safely unloaded at the workplace, and vice versa. A significant number of manual handling injuries, falls from heights and accidents caused by falling objects result from poorly restrained loads shifting in transit. HSE will be launching a campaign offering guidance and advice on loading and unloading later this year.”
A spokesperson for VOSA stated:
“VOSA and HSE recognise that insecure loads present a great risk to road safety. We are keen to participate in HSE’s new campaign to highlight the issues of insecure loads, provide education and information for the haulage industry and reduce congestion caused by load loss.”
Managing the Risks
We often emphasise the need to manage risks to employees, but employers are also responsible for risks to other people that result from their business activities or from the actions of their employees.
Unsafe loads in transit can cause or contribute to accidents for a whole range of reasons and can impact many other people in addition to the vehicle's driver and those who load and unload.
For example, loads that move whilst in transit may become unstable. They may be shed onto the road causing injury to other road users or the whole vehicle may become unstable, which could lead to difficult handling or even overturning.
It is important that all employees who have any responsibility for goods in transit should be adequately trained in techniques for safe loading/unloading and manual handling operations. Correct forms of restraint should be used that are suited to the nature of loads being transported.
Route planning also plays a part, particularly for awkward loads that may be difficult to navigate around some of our roads. For journeys that include multiple collection/delivery points, the order in which goods are loaded is clearly important.
Don't become part of the accident statistics associated with the carriage of road freight. Carry out appropriate risk assessments and ensure you act on the findings.
EDP is able to carry out independent risk assessments and advise on appropriate precautions for any activities that could pose risks to your workforce or other persons.
To discuss your requirements, without any obligation on your part, please gives us a call on 01744 766000 or complete the Enquiry Form on our website.