HS001

Workplace transport is one of the main causes of fatalities in UK workplaces, with around 70 people being killed each year in accidents involving vehicles. Another 2500 people a year suffer major injuries. Injuries & fatalities may be caused through people & loads falling from vehicles, or through the overturning of vehicles,. However, 70% of such accidents are as the result of pedestrians being struck by moving vehicles.

The movement of vehicles (often including vehicles such as HGV's & forklift trucks) around workplaces that are often congested & busy should be an obvious hazard to employers, yet many employers appear to ignore the risks & fail to provide even the most basic of controls to reduce risk.

A number of recent accidents highlight some of the various problems associated with workplace transport.

A worker was carrying out a daily check of vehicle numbers in a freight yard when she was struck by a reversing lorry, resulting in a broken ankle & injuries to both legs. The worker had been wearing a hi-visibility jacket & a banksman was assisting the lorry in its manoeuvre. However, the banksman was on the opposite side of the lorry & the checks were being made during the busy morning period.

The driver of an HGV was killed when he was crushed against the side of his lorry whilst performing a sheeting-up operation. The driver was struck by a forklift truck (FLT) which was loading another lorry in an adjacent bay. Insufficient space had been provided for the loading operations so that the FLT had to reverse very close to the second HGV. The company were prosecuted & fined £200,000 for failing to conduct an adequate risk assessment & failing to provide an adequate safe system of work.

An employee was fatally injured whilst assisting a reversing vehicle that was backing into a collection bay to attach an empty bin to a compaction unit. The employee moved between the reversing bin & the compactor but was unseen by the lorry driver because the empty bin was obscuring the driver's view.

An untrained 19 year-old had a lucky escape when the forklift truck he was driving crashed through a barrier & fell 1.25 metres off a loading bay. The driver had only been with the company a few weeks & was not trained or authorised to drive the FLT. However, a lack of staff at a busy time meant that he was asked to operate the truck. The truck had a faulty throttle cable that had not been reported & this caused the truck to react in an uncontrolled manner. The company was prosecuted & fined for failing to operate adequate safe systems of work & failing to adequately train employees.

The above examples show how inadequate safety management systems for controlling workplace transport can easily lead to serious accidents.

However, the good news is that a simple, systematic approach to the issue can ensure that transport risks are successfully controlled.

1. Assess the Risks
Consider the volumes of vehicle and pedestrian traffic movement; the complexity of traffic routes; vehicle speeds; reductions in visibility (e.g. due to corners, obstructions, inadequate lighting etc.); the types of operations being undertaken by vehicles (e.g. reversing, loading or unloading); the level of training or competence of drivers; the levels of knowledge and awareness of pedestrians; the physical condition of vehicles and traffic routes.

2. Separate Vehicles & Pedestrians
- Keep pedestrian & vehicle areas separate wherever possible;
- Where vehicles and pedestrians must share areas keep them apart by physical means such as barriers or raised walkways;
- Provide separate entry/exit routes for pedestrians and vehicles;
- Where pedestrian exit points lead out onto vehicle routes protect them with a suitable barrier.

3. Organise Traffic Routes
- Employ one-way systems for vehicle travel rather than two-way, counter-flow systems;
- Road junctions should be kept to a minimum. Where junctions exist they should be suitably marked to indicate right of way;
- Keep the need for vehicles to reverse to a minimum. Where vehicles need to reverse then designate reversing areas & use trained banksmen to assist;
- Provide marked crossing points for pedestrians;
- Carry out loading and unloading away from passing traffic;
- Site parking areas away from normal traffic routes;
- Keep traffic routes free from obstructions and other hazards that can reduce visibility, restrict traffic flow or cause routes to be unusable.

4. Mark and Identify Traffic Routes
- Clearly mark both vehicle and pedestrian traffic routes;
- Ensure traffic routes are adequately lit.

5. Control Vehicle Speed
- Clearly identify speed limits;
- Install other means to control speed such as speed bumps.

6. Maintain Vehicles & Traffic Routes
- Ensure that vehicles are regularly inspected & maintained;
- Ensure that drivers visually check their vehicle at the start of each shift;
- Ensure that traffic routes are regularly inspected and maintained.

7. Provide Relevant Information, Instruction & Training
Ensure that all drivers are adequately trained;
Ensure that all pedestrians are made aware of the dangers & rules for moving around vehicle areas.

8. Provide Appropriate Clothing
- Ensure that all pedestrians operating in vehicle areas are provided with hi-visibility clothing.

9. Monitor & Enforce
- Regularly check to ensure that the rules & procedures for safe operation are being followed. Deal with offenders accordingly.