2.2 Transport hazards and risk control Flashcards
List the ways in which forklift trucks may overturn?
- travelling on slopes that are too steep;
- going over slippery surfaces (such as oil or grease patches);
- going over soft or uneven ground;
- going over kerbs, steps or other edges;
- being overloaded or unevenly loaded;
- going too fast around corners;
- carrying loads at a dangerous height (e.g. with a lift truck load fully raised);
- collisions with other vehicles and/or fixed objects or structures; and/or
- mechanical failures, e.g. brakes / tyre bursts.
List other hazards associated with vehicles?
Manual handling
Handling products can involve the frequent movement of some fairly substantial loads
Lifting operations
Operations involving cranes or vehicle mounted lifting equipment (e.g. HIABs) to load or unload vehicles can be hazardous.
Working at height
This can be an issue when working on a loading bay or perhaps the trailer or tail-lift of a vehicle. The height of a fall may not be great but the risks are significant because of the working environment, which
invariably involves hard surfaces such as concrete kerbs.
Coupling of vehicles
It is normally necessary for the vehicle driver to stand between the tractor unit and the trailer when connecting compressed air lines that serve the trailer brakes. This presents a risk of falling from height.
Securing loads
Unrestrained loads can increase the risk of vehicle rollover and load spillage, and risk the life of the driver and other road users. An unsecured load can shift inside the trailer and is more difficult to unload. In the worst case scenario, vehicles can roll over due to load shift as the vehicle can become unbalanced and overturn. All or part of the load may be damaged if it falls from the trailer.
The value of loads
The value of the load, and the subsequent risk of theft, can increase the threat of violence
Vehicle repair and maintenance
Maintenance and repair can also be hazardous, and as with all such work, the risks can sometimes be greater because of
the perceived urgency of the situation. Some of the hazards mentioned above (e.g. work at height, manual handling) may
be present during repair or maintenance of vehicles. Additional hazards could include stored energy in the form of compressed
air, hydraulic systems or heat from engine components.
How can a load be made safe?
To secure a load safely you need to make sure it is:
• restrained – tied firmly down to the load bed; and
• contained – it can’t move around (shift) inside the vehicle.
What startegies can be put in place for controlling risks related to transport operations in the workplace?
Design and maintenance of the workplace
Management control of activities
What features can help reduce risks in the workplace?
• Ensuring traffic routes are suitable and sufficient for the types and volume of traffic that will be using them. This will require that they are wide enough and, where appropriate, high enough to allow safe
movements of vehicles. It will be necessary to segregate vehicles and pedestrians by means of clear markings, signage and, on occasion, physical barriers. Suitably designated parking areas for vehicles should be provided, preferably away from pedestrian or working areas. Where
possible, one-way systems and/or turning circles should be incorporated into the design of vehicle routes to minimise the need for reversing.
• Lighting should also be adequate, and efforts should be made to minimise the number of blind corners, concealed entrances or other potential areas where poor visibility for vehicle drivers or pedestrians could create a risk. Where such risks exist it may be necessary to install convex (i.e. fisheye) mirrors to increase visibility.
• Gradients or other changes in level should be kept to a minimum. In addition, floor surfaces should be properly maintained and suitable for the location and activities being undertaken. This would take into account factors such as weather and perhaps the possibility that indoor floors might become wet and slippery (e.g. vehicle entrance doors that are open to the elements).
What management control activities are required in high risk areas?
Maintenance of vehicles
• brakes;
• flashing beacons and horns;
• steering;
• tyres;
• leaks from hydraulic pipes; and
• correct operation of the vehicle.
Choice of vehicles
Vehicles should be appropriate for the work that is being carried out. This may require
that different types of vehicle are used, e.g. reach trucks, counterbalance forklifts
Strict control of vehicle and pedestrian movements
This is necessary where physical segregation of vehicles
and people is not practicable. Only authorised persons should be permitted to enter such areas and the wearing of high visibility clothing should be mandatory. In addition, drivers would be required to sound the vehicle horn when entering or exiting buildings, negotiating blind corners
and/or reversing. The use of a banksman to guide drivers may also be necessary.
Selection and training of drivers
Driver training normally consists
of three distinct stages:
1. Skills-based training, which will provide them with the basic understanding and skills that are necessary to operate a forklift truck in a safe manner.
2. Training that is specific to the type of work and environment that they will be working in. This training would be carried out in a designated area away from other employees.
3. Further training as necessary in the actual workplace.
What are the risk factors associated with driving at work?
Distances that drivers have to cover
It is not unusual for some company drivers to spend half their working hours on the road. In many cases employees will also have to drive long distances while still undertaking a full day’s work.
Driving hours
These are likely to be linked in many cases to distances travelled.
Work schedules
Unrealistic or badly organised work schedules can often result in employees takingchances with safety.
Stress
Driving-related stress often occurs when the individual feels overwhelmed by the
surrounding environment and road conditions.
Weather conditions
The weather can pose a risk as it may hinder the driver’s visibility, their ability to stop within safe distances, and their control of the vehicle.
What might a driving at work policy include?
• Management’s responsibility to assess the risks from driving and to put in place the
systems to manage that risk.
• Ensuring that vehicles are properly maintained, including the driver’s responsibilities to ensure vehicle roadworthiness if being used on the company’s behalf. Defect reporting
procedures should be clearly set out.
• The need for drivers to demonstrate that privately owned vehicles are only used for work purposes if they are insured for business use
• The need for drivers to hold a licence for the type of vehicle they use and for periodic checks on the validity of that licence.
• Driver training options, e.g. defensive driving courses, off-road driving for forestry workers.
• What to do in the event of vehicle breakdown, bad weather conditions and/or any other delays that might occur.
• Prohibition of the use of handheld mobile phones if driving
• Frequency that breaks from driving should be taken, e.g.15 minutes in every two hours or every 100 miles
• The factors influencing the choice of vehicle and, if appropriate, the driver’s input to that choice, e.g. ergonomic considerations, mileages that will be covered
What systems should be in place for managing work related road safety?
• different driver categories and the associated risks (e.g. car drivers, goods vehicle, passenger or patient transport);
• specific competencies associated with each driver category (e.g. licence entitlement for class of vehicle, ongoing competence assessments); and
• any risks that might be specific to individual drivers or their driving circumstances (e.g. long hours or distances, past high accident rates, temperament).
Monitoring performance
Performance must be monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that the policy is working. It is likely that much of the performance data will be reactive,
Organisation and structure
All affected by the driving at work policy will need to understand their responsibilities and be equipped to fulfil them
Legal responsibilities of individuals on public roads
Even when a vehicle is owned by a company, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that it is used in a legal and roadworthy condition rests with the individual driver. He/she will need to regularly check that the lights, indicators, windscreen wipers and washers, tyres and brakes are all in good working order.
What are the 5 key steps that should be followed in assessing the risks in driving?
• Step 1: Look for hazards that may result in harm when driving on public roads.
• Step 2: Decide who might be harmed.
• Step 3: Evaluate the risk and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or more should be done. You need to consider how likely it is that each hazard will cause harm
• Step 4: Record your findings. Employers with five or more employees are required to
record the significant findings of their risk assessment.
– a proper check was made;
– those who might be affected were consulted; and
– all of the obvious hazards were identified and addressed.
• Step 5: Review your assessment and revise as necessary to ensure that the risks to those who drive, and others, are controlled.
What are the 3 risk categories associated from driving at work?
The driver, the vehicle and the journey
List factors to be considered in assessing risks for the driver, journey and the vehicle?
The driver
Factors to consider in relation to the
driver of the vehicle, such as their competence and/or experience of the type of driving
All drivers, however, should know the basics, such as:
• the correct adjustment of seats, headrests and seatbelts for comfort and safety;
• how to check tyre pressures, lights, indicators, windscreen washer levels;
• how to use ABS (anti-lock braking systems) if fitted;
• the safest way to distribute and secure any load they may be carrying; and
• the height of the vehicle (goods vehicles).
The vehicle
Suitability
This means making sure that the vehicles are fit for the purpose for which they are used, which raises questions such as:
• What are the safety standards for the particular vehicle(s) in respect of driving and
public health and safety?
• Is the vehicle suitable for the job in hand?
• How well does the vehicle measure up to the ergonomic needs of drivers?
• Should vehicles be hired or leased and what impact will this have on how maintenance will be undertaken?
• Is it better to allow employees to use their private vehicles on company business
Condition of vehicles
Employers will have to
ensure that adequate maintenance arrangements exist and that repairs or service are carried out to an acceptable standard and that manufacturers’
recommendations are observed in respect of safetycritical features. The driver would be involved in this process by undertaking periodic checks of tyre condition and pressures, windscreen wiper blades
The journey
The route that is taken can also have a significant impact on safety.
Route planning should take into account other factors such as tunnels, level crossings or low bridges.
Scheduling
The proper scheduling of journeys should also be given consideration. Making journeys when traffic flows are reduced
Time
Sufficient time should be allowed for journeys to be undertaken
Distance
The distances that are driven may well have a bearing on safety.
Weather conditions
Weather conditions can create additional
problems when planning journeys. Snow, ice, fog and heavy rain are all likely to significantly affect journey times but are also direct contributory factors in many vehicle incidents.
