Health & safety bulletin
Vehicle Loading Incident
27th August 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) delivered a warning this year for employers to ensure that loads on vehicles are properly restrained following the death of an HGV driver.
According to information released by the HSE on 29 January 2009, the driver was killed when material he was transporting shifted in transit and “punched through the back of the cab, pinning him between his seat and the steering wheel”. Please see link below for further details...
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coinw03609.htm
A lesson to us all
This incident highlights the need to load vehicles properly and safely and for you to consider “what's the worst thing that can happen?” as part of your last minute risk assessment before driving a loaded vehicle.
Our vans are used to transport mobile scaffold towers, barriers, tools and sometimes sign components or complete signs, and if they are not tethered or loaded properly, any of these can become potentially lethal in the event of an emergency stop or collision.
In addition to the hazards identified above, load distribution and tyre-wear can also affect vehicle stability when cornering.
For those of you who have attended the first of the Hearts and Minds courses, think about accident liability and the potential repercussions.
Please think before you drive and consider the consequences for you, your family, your colleagues and your employer; we all want you to return home unhurt every day!
If you have any questions regarding the safe loading of vehicles, or feel that you need a revision of training in this area, please speak to your supervisor or call the office on 0845 2300 460.