HGV Vehicle Spot Checks Drive Part Of New Load Safety Campaign
The Health and Safety Executive's new load safety campaign is focused on reducing the number of death and injuries linked to workplace transport. As a result, spot checks on hundreds of HGV vehicles will take place in support of a new drive to ensure that loads are being transported securely.
In advising Branches of the above, Dave Joyce CWU's National Health, Safety & Environment Officer writes in LTB440/10:
Loading and unloading accounts for one in five workplace transport incidents- many resulting from loads not being properly restrained.
Unsafe loads on vehicles injure more than 1,200 people a year and cost UK businesses millions of pounds in damaged goods.
There will be eight days of spot checks at locations across the North West, with officers from the HSE and the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) inspecting the loads of vehicles that have been pulled over at random.
Similar spot checks took place last year with close to 80 per cent of loads found not to be sufficiently restrained.
Drivers/businesses who are found to have unsafe loads face fines or even risk having their vehicle ordered off the road.
As part of the wider 9 week campaign, hauliers and transport managers will be mailed with guidance and top tips on loading and unloading safely and radio and trade press adverts will invite workers to visit www.hse.gov.uk/loadsafety for more information.
HSE and VOSA have stated that there is absolutely no excuse for unsafe loads. HSE and VOSA said they hear from drivers that they were only 'going down the road' or 'they were running late' but these just won't wash, not when people's health or lives are at risk.
Vehicles are at risk of overturning if a load moves and makes them unstable. Load shifts can also put those workers who are unloading the van or lorry at the other end at risk.
Materials falling from vehicles pose a danger to other road users as well as causing annoying traffic disruption. Apart from this, there is the cost to business of a lost or damaged load.
Drivers should take those few extra minutes to ensure their loads are secure or at best they could face a fine or, at worst, risk death or injury to themselves and/or others.
VOSA and HSE recognise that insecure loads present a great risk to road safety. VOSA are keen to participate in HSE's new load safety campaign to highlight the issues of insecure loads, provide education and information for the haulage industry and reduce congestion caused by load loss.
The Road Haulage Association state that items such as vehicle design and specification including the correct restraints for specific loads, loading dynamics, route planning, loader and driver training are just a few of the factors that need to be considered before loads are despatched.
The LTB ends with the following key notes:
1. The vehicle checks are a joint initiative by HSE and VOSA.
2. HSE's role is to protect people against risks to health or safety arising out of work activities.
3. VOSA provides a range of licensing, testing and enforcement services to improve the roadworthiness standards of vehicles ensuring the compliance of operators and drivers, and supporting the independent Traffic Commissioners.
4. If they feel there is a serious risk to other road users, workers or to the driver, HSE and VOSA can enforce a range of regulatory powers, including prohibiting the continued use of the vehicle. HSE and local authorities also enforce health and safety legislation at premises where goods are loaded and unloaded.
Source: CWU
