 Home Health and Safety Health and Safety News
Unsafe loads on vehicles a common problem
08 May 2009
More than three quarters of vehicles stopped during safety checks by HSE and VOSA in England and Wales were not loaded safely – putting motorists and loading staff at risk.
In the joint spot-check exercise 40 vehicles were stopped during three days in Wrexham, Birmingham and Humberside.
In the majority of cases remedial action was needed to make the load safe. Drivers were usually able to solve the problem safely within minutes. Further checks are now planned.
During the last three years, 14 people have been killed and more than 2,000 people have been injured by cargo falling from vehicles when they are being loaded or unloaded.
According to the HSE, badly secured loads pose a number of risks, including:
- Shedding loads in transit, endangering other road users and causing traffic disruption.
- Vehicles overturning when they become unstable following a load shifting in transit.
- Loads moving inside the vehicle during transit which then fall off at the point of delivery, with potential to cause injury.
- Workers climbing onto trailers to deal with a load that has shifted in transit then falling because they have a precarious foot hold, or being struck by parts of the load or suffering manual handling injuries when they try to unload the vehicle.
- Damage to goods being carried.
HSE will be launching a campaign offering guidance and advice on loading and unloading later this year.
Contact Details
Health and Safety section
Ph: 0161 249 2441
Fax: 0161 249 2475
Email: healthandsafety@usdaw.org.uk
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