Falling From Vehicles

Jan 1, 2010

It is estimated that of the three million people in the UK who work with or near vehicles,
2000 people annually are seriously injured as a result from falling from a vehicle and five people are killed. The Workplace Transport Campaign 2007 being run by the HSE aims to increase safety standards and improve awareness of risks involved in falling from vehicles. Most falls occur when people are working on, loading/unloading the vehicle or getting on and off.

A HSE website designed to prevent falls from vehicles gives practical guidance for managers, vehicle buyers and workers. The website can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/fallsfromvehicles

Amongst the guidance is a useful “Managers Checklist” that includes the following points:

Agree safe ways of loading and unloading to minimise the amount of time workers have to spend on the vehicle loading area.

Carry out regular checks on the condition of equipment such as steps and catwalks. Falls occur when the steps or catwalk have failed.

Provide drivers with a system for reporting faults related to access equipment on their vehicles and check they use the system. Make sure faults are repaired quickly.

Provide adequate lighting in depots and on the vehicles where work is carried out. Poor lighting will hide trip and slip hazards.

Keep vehicle beds and catwalks tidy to help prevent trips and slips.

Provide safe vehicle washing facilities and make sure they are used. Diesel, grease or mud increases the likelihood of slipping on the catwalk, steps or load area.

Provide steps, gantries and platforms where work at height is unavoidable for loading and unloading or maintenance and cleaning.

Provide suitable slip-resistant footwear for drivers.

Give drivers a ‘toolbox talk’ on how to avoid falls and provide refresher sessions at regular intervals.

Check to ensure that fall precautions are actually taken.

This all appears to be obvious advice but the accident statistics indicate the obvious is being overlooked.

To assist manager and safety representatives further, the website provides information sheets and posters to download.

Wilby Ltd can carry out workplace transport risk assessments and offer advice and training on safe systems of work for vehicles.