Contents//

1 Introduction2 LoadSafety– PrinciplesofLoadSecuring2.1RestrainingtheLoad2.2PositionoftheLoad2.3AnchoragePointsandLashings2.4Restraints2.5LashingoftheLoad2.6SheetingoftheLoad2.7TwistLocks3RoadsideInspectionbytheDVSA3.1InspectionMatrixQuestions4Penalties5OtherPointstoConsider6RiskAssessment7RegulationsandFurtherReading

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GuidanceDocument//• INTRODUCTION

• TheModularandPortableBuildingAssociation(MPBA)hascompiledthisGuidanceDocumentfollowinginstancesofroadsidechecksresultinginpenaltiesforourmembers.

• TheeffectivenessofstrappingandloadingofcabinsbeingtransportedhasbeenquestionedbyTheDriverandVehicleStandardsAgency(DVSA,(formerlyVOSA))duringroadsidechecks.Oneofthemainareasofconcernistheloadingofstaircasesandplatformsontopofthecabinbeingtransported.Althoughthereisnoclearwritteninstructionsayingyoucannotdothisthereisnoinstructionsayingthatyoucan.Theincreasingpointofviewfromisthattheywillclampdownonthispracticeintheroadsidechecksthatarebeingmade.

• TheRoadTrafficActintroducedprovisionsmakingnewoffences,applicabletothestateofloadsonvehiclesdesignedtoprotectthepeopleinvolvedinloading,unloadinganddrivingthevehicleaswellastheotherroadusersandpedestrians.

• LoadingandunloadingthevehicleshouldbesubjecttoalocalriskassessmentasrequiredbytheHealthandSafetyatWorkRegulations.AbasicchecklisthasbeenprovidedattheendofthisdocumentbutusersmaywanttotakeindividualadvicefromtheHSEwebsiteonriskassessmentsandhowtocarrythemout.

• SecuringthecabinitselfontothevehicleinvolvesadherencetomanyoftheLawsalreadyinplacethemainonesbeing:

• TheRoadVehicles(Constructionanduse)Regulations1986• TheRoadTrafficAct1988• (SeeAppendixforallotherreferencesusedincompilingthisdocument)

• In2013,theDVSAissuedinexcessof2000prohibitionstovehicleswhichintheiropinionpresentedaroadsafetyriskbecauseofhowtheloadwassecured.

• Increasingnumbersofroadsideexaminersareputtingalotofemphasisonsecurityofloadswhichinvolvethepracticeoftoploadingstaircases.Theirviewisthatthereisn’tawayofsecuringtheseirregularpiecesofequipmentontopofthecabinstheyareaccompanying.

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ManyofourmembershavealreadystoppedthispracticebutincreasingcostsofTransportoftenmeanthattheadditionofanothervehiclejusttotransporttheplatformthatwouldfitontopisn’tworthit.

DVSAtakeadifferentview.

Notwithstandinglegalrequirementscommonsenseprevailsandrequiresthatallloadsonvehiclesaresecured.

WiththisinmindthefollowingGuidancehasbeencompiledforMPBAmemberstoassisttheminthismatter.

LOADSAFETY

TheprinciplesofLoadSecurity

“Whenobjectsareinmotion,theywillcontinuetomoveinthesamedirectionandatthesamespeedunlesssomeotherforceactsuponthemtoretardor

stopthemovement”SirIsaacNewtonPrincipiaMathematica1666

Theprinciplesofmotionhavenotchangedandstillhavetobeobservedasdothelawsoftheland.

Whenavehicleisloaded,regardlessoftheshapeoftheload,thatloadismovingatthesamespeedasthevehicleandinthesamedirection.Whenthevehiclechangesdirectiontheloadwillcontinueintheoriginaldirectionunlesssomeotherforceactsuponitthusstoppingitmoving.Frictionofthevehiclebedisnotenough.GoingoverbumpsmayallowtheloadtoleavethesafetyofthevehiclebedthusreducingthefrictionfactormomentarilytoZerocausingaforwardmovementandcreatingabatteringrameffectagainsttheheadboardorsidewaysoffthevehicle.Thisisalsotrueofveryheavyloads.

Donotassumethattheweightoftheloadisenoughtokeepitinposition!Thegreatertheweightoftheload,thegreaterkineticenergycreated,makingitmorelikelythatitwillcontinueitsoriginalpath.

Inordertokeeptheloadsecurerestraintsmustbeusedtoensurethatwhenbraking,accelerating,corneringonroundabouts,overtakingetc.thattheloadstaysonthevehicleanddoesnotmove.

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Underheavybrakingtheweightactinginaforwarddirectioncanbeequaltothatactingdownonthevehicle.(Seefigures1&2below)

RestrainingtheLoad

ThebasicprincipleuponwhichthisguidanceisbasedisthatthecombinedstrengthoftheanyloadrestraintissufficienttowithstandaforcewhichisnotlessthantheTotalWeightoftheloadforwardsoastopreventtheloadmovingunderhardbraking.Itshouldalsobesufficienttowithstandhalftheweightbackwardsandsideways.(SeeFigure3)Theseshouldberegardedasminimumrequirementsasgreaterforcesmaybeexperiencedifthevehicleencountersabnormalconditionssuchasbeinginvolvedinanaccident.

Beforeavehicleisloaded,itshouldbecheckedtoensurethatitsloadplatform,bodyworkandanchoragepoints,includingtwistlockswherefitted,areappropriatefortheloadandareinasoundandserviceablecondition.Thisisthebasisofsecuringtheloadandshouldformpartofanyriskassessmentpriortoloading.(SeetheSectionrelatingtoRiskAssessmentlaterinthisGuidance)

2.1

Fig1

Fig2

Fig3

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PositionoftheLoad

Itisessentialthattheloadisplacedontothevehicleinsuchamannerthatforwardmovementisrestricted.Thebestmethodforthisistoplaceitcontactwiththeheadboard.

Wherethisisnotpracticablethenadditionalmeansofsecuringtheloadmustbefound.Thesemayincludeplacingobstaclessuchaspalletsorsuitabletimberblocksorsleepers.Thishastheeffectofeffectivelymovingtheheadboardrearwards.

Ifthisisnotpossibleforwhateverreasonthenothermeansmustbefoundtostopforwardmovementsuchasadditionalstrapping.

Theloadingofthevehicleshouldbecarriedoutinaccordancewiththevehiclescapabilitiestakingintoaccountaxleweightsandthecentreofgravityoftheload.

Theheaviestpartoftheloade.g.containerswithdieselgeneratorsshouldbeplacedsothattheheaviestpartoftheloadistowardsthecentrelineofthevehicle.

AnchoragePointsandLashings

Mostvehiclesarefittedwithsomeformofanchorageforloadrestraintsystems.Thesemaytaketheformofcustommadepointswhichhaverollerstrapsattachedortheymaybepointswhichhavebeenboltedorweldedontothevehicleforthatpurpose.

LashingsandAnchoragePointsshouldcomplywiththerelevantrequirementsofBSEN12195LoadRestraintAssembliesonRoadVehicles,furthermore,bydesignavehiclestrailer/bedwillaidloadsecuritywithcompliancewiththerelevantrequirementsofBSEN12642SecuringofCargoonRoadVehicles.

Anchoragepointsshouldbefirmlyattachedtothechassisandbesufficientlyratedsoastotransmittheforcestheyreceiveintothemainstructureofthevehicle.(Seefig4 above)Anchoragepointswhicharesecuredtotimberaloneshouldnotbeused.

Thecapacityofeachanchorpointisnormallyindicatedonthevehicle.Theloadshouldbesecuredinawaysuchasthecapacityoftheanchoragepoints,evenlydistributed,isnotlessthanthemaximumratedloadofthevehicle.Thereshouldbeaminimumof3anchoragepointsoneachside.

2.2

2.3

Fig4:Exampleanchoragepoints

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Thenumberofanchoragepointsusedforanyparticularloaddependsonthedimensionoftheloadbeingcarriedandthepositionoftheloadinrelationtotheheadboardoranyadditionalmeansofrestrainteg.twistlockswherefitted.Thepointsthemselvesmustbecompatiblewiththetypeofsecuringequipmentusede.g.eyeboltsorshackles.

Restraints

Anyrestraintsusedtosecuretheloadshouldberegularlyinspectedforwearandtearandsuitablyratedtothecapacityoftheload.Chainswhichareusedmusthaveasuitablesafeworkingloadandbecompatiblewithanytensionersandturnbuckleswhicharebeingused.

Webbingstrapsarenormallyusedtosecurecontainersontothevehicle.ItisrecommendedthatthesearemarkedwithaRatedAssemblyStrength(RAS)andcomplywithEN12195

WebbingmadefromPolyester,Polyamide,orPolypropylenemaybeusedwithinthecorrectrating.ItshouldbenotedthatwebbingmadefromPolyamidelosesupto15%ofitsstrengthwhenwet.Cut,damaged,orwornstrapsmustnotbeused.Tensionersandharnessclampsmustbecheckedfordamageandcorrosion.

2.4

2.5 LashingtheLoadLashingsandfasteningdevicesmustbeproperlytensionedatalltimesusingtherelevanttensioningdevice.Careshouldbetakennottoovertightenlashings.Neveruseanyleverstotightentensioningdevicesandonlyusedevicesspecifiedbythemanufacturersofthelashing.

.

Fig5

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Itisimportantthatthelashingswhichprovideforwardrestraintaresetasneartothehorizontalaspossibleandneveratananglemorethan60°.Thisisduetothefactthattheeffortrequiredtorestraintheloadincreasessharplyasthelashingsapproachtheverticalposition.(SeeFigure5,previouspage)

Thereshouldbeatleastonelashingevery1.5metrealongthelengthofthevehicle.Lashingsmustbeprotectedagainstabrasionbytheuseofcornerprotectorsorprotectivesleeves.

Itshouldbenotedthataloadpositionedtoonesideofthevehicleiflashingsareloopedoverwillrequirealongerrestraintthaniftheloadwasmountedcentrally.Thisresultsinalossoftensionifthereisanymovementoftheloadtowardsthecentreofthevehicle.(SeeFigure5,previouspage)

Ifitisnecessary,forwhateverreason,tocarryaloadoffcentreitisadvisabletoroutetherestraintslongitudinallyorifpossibletoattachthemtothesideofthecabin.

Sheetingtheload

Itisnotnormalpractice,otherthanforopenmodularframes,tosheetupacontainerorcabin.Howeverifthiswasthecasethenthepracticeofusinglashingswouldstillprevailandthesheetingsecuredontop.Careshouldbetakentoensurethatthesheetingisuniformoneachsideandthatreflectorslightsetc.havenotbeenobscuredandthatropeshavebeensecured (SeeFigs6&7below).

Aswithlashingcaremustbetakenwhenthrowingsheetsorropesoverthevehicleincaseotherpersons,unawareofyouractionsarehurtbyflyingropesorlashings.AtalltimesobservethehealthandsafetypracticeswhichshouldhavebeenidentifiedintheinitialRiskAssessment

TwistLocks

Somevehiclesarefittedwithtwistlocksdesignedspecificallyforthepurposeoftransportingcontainers.Theseshouldalsobeinspectedpriortouseandtoensurethatthelockingmechanismisstilloperationalandeffective.

2.7

Fig6 Fig7

2.6

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Aminimumof4twistlocksshouldbeusedforeachcontainercarried.(Seebelow)

ContainerswhicharecarriedusingaTwistlocksystemdonotnormallyrequireanyfurtherrestraints(Seefigs8&9).Howeversomecontainershavetwistlockcapabilitybutarecarriedonvehicleswhichdonot.Inthesecasestherestraintsystemsalreadycoveredapply (seeexampleatfig10,below)

Iffurtherrestrainingisrequiredthen,forexamplethetwistlockcornerscanbeusedasadditionalmeasurementbyusingchainsthroughtheholesandtensioningthechainusingachaintensioner (seefigs11,12&13below)

Ifusingthismethoditisrecommendedthatthereare3pointsofcontactontothevehicleandnotjusthookedontoananchorpoint.

Fig8 Fig9

Fig10

Fig11 Fig12 Fig13

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ROADSIDEINSPECTIONBYTHEDVSA

AninspectionbyaDVSAinspectorwillfollowguidelinesbasedonamatrixofquestionsandanswers.

Thingsalreadycoveredinvolvetheconditionofsecuringstraps,distancessecuredagainsttheheadboardvehicleroadworthinessetc.TheguidelinescontainedwithintheseregulationsalsoallowtheDVSAinspectortoaskquestionsfromamatrix(asfollows,3.1):

InspectionMatrixQuestions

Cantheloadslideortoppleforwardsorbackwards?Thisnotonlyincludesthecabinbutalsoanythingattachedorsecuredtoitsuchasstaircasesandrampsetc.

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3.1

Cantheloadslideortoppleofftheside?Theloadi.e.staircasesmayhavebeensecuredontothecabinusingtimehonouredpracticessuchasStrappingontoatimberbasetosaveslippingorchainstopreventmovement.Theviewfromroadsideinspectorsisthatnoneofthesepracticesarefoolproofandassuchthereisachancethatitwillslipandthereforeitwillbedeemedunsafe.

Istheloadunstable?IfitisstoredontopofacabintheDVSAwilllikelydeemthatisunstablenomatterhowwellyoubelieveitissecured.

Doesthevehiclepresentanimmediatelikelihoodofcausingdangerorinjuryduetoitsloadsecurityorstability?Duetoincidentsinvolvinginsecurecabinsorloadswhichhaveresultedininjuryordeaththeyaremorethanlikelytoanswerthisquestion;Yes,iftheloadcontainsanyelementofadditionalloadingsuchasstaircasesorisbadlyrestrained!

OncequestionshavebeenaskedbytheDVSAinspector;anyfailuretomeetrequiredcompliancethentheinspectorwillhavenochoicebuttotakethematterfurther.

Anotherthingtotakeintoconsiderationistheheightoftheloadinrelationtotheheightoftheheadboard.Whereavehicleisladenwithalargeindivisibleloadtheheadboardisdeemedtobepartofthesecuringsystemaslongastheloadcannottoppleovertheheadboard.

LoadingontopofthecabinbringsthisintoquestionandallowstheVOSAtostopandexaminetheload.

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PENALTIES

ThepoliceandtheDVSAhavethepowertoissuepenaltiesforinsecureloadoffences.Attimeofwritingafixedpenaltynoticeof£100willbeissuedtothedriverdeemedtobecarryinganinsecureloadwhichispayablebythedriverwithin28days.Inadditiontheremaybeendorsementsapplicabletotheirlicence.Inextremecasesthecourthasthepowertogivethedriveranunlimitedfine.

Eachcaseishandledonitsownmerits.Forinstanceanunsecuredmetalcabinonaflatbedwouldbedeemedmoredangerousthanafewbagsofclothingonacurtainsider.

AProhibitionNotice(PG9)noticemayalsobeissuedatthispointwhicheffectivelyimmobilisesthevehiclewithimmediateeffect.

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Iftheproblemcannotberectifiedwithin60minutes,typically,theDVSAImmobilisationPolicywouldcomeintoforce,causingfurtherdelaysandexpense.

Thisoffencealsohasadetrimentalaffectona company’soperator’slicence.Apartfromthefinespaid,penaltypointsissued,andlatedeliveryofthegoods,thedisruptionwilloftenbemorethantheoriginalcostofhiringanadditionalvehicleandsecuringtheloadcorrectly.

OTHERPOINTSTOCONSIDER

Puttingextraneousobjectsontheroofsofthecabins,continuouslyovertime,willcausedamagetotherooffabrice.g.resultinginroofleaks.

Compliancewiththisguidance,e.g.nevercarryingloadsontheroof,significantlyreducesthepotentialriskofthevehiclebeingover-height.

StrappingtheequipmentontotheroofwillinvolveanelementofworkingatheightwhichbringsitsownHealthandSafetyproblems

Unloadingitems,ontheroof,involvesrisk,e.g.whenthestrapsarereleasedandtheloadhasshiftedintransitmayresultinloadfallinguncontrollably.

Istheloaddefinedasawideload.Safeandsecureloadingalsorequireswidemarkerboards,suitableandsufficientlightingandextendablewingmirrorswhererequired.

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RISKASSESSMENT

“Asystematicprocessofevaluatingthepotentialriskthatmaybeinvolvedinaprojectedactivityorundertaking”

Whenconsideringriskassessingloadsecurityonanyroadvehicle,therearemanyvariablestoconsider.Weightofload,widthofload,lengthofload,capacityoflashingstrapsandchains,provisionoffrictionaids,numberofanchorpointsetc.

Considerationofthecontentofthisguidancedocumentinestablishingrobustcontrolsforsecuringanyloadwillsignificantlyaidourmemberswithcompliance.

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Questionsthatneedtobeasked:

HowamIloadingthisvehicle?• Istheforkliftcapableofsuchalift?

Istheloaditselfinherentlysafeevenbeforeloading?• Doesithaveextraattachmentsorlooseitemssuchasstaircases?

Ismyvehicleroadworthyandlegal?• Isitsuitabletocarrythisload?• Isthedriversufficientlytrained?

HowamIgoingtosecurethisload?• ArethesecuringprecautionsIamusingadequatefortheload?• Aremylashings/loadharness/anchorpointsfullyfunctionalandlegal?

HaveImadeprovisionforensuringpersonalsafety?• Whocouldbehurtiftherewasanaccident?• HowcanIpreventit?

Doesloadinginvolveworkingatheight?• DoIhaveproperharness/fallarrestors?

HaveIcheckedtheroute?• Arethereanylowbridgesorrestrictions?

Whilstitistruethataonefitsalltemplateisimpossible;includedisanExampleofaPossibleriskassessment,startingonpage14.ThisisonlyanexampleofonestyleofRiskassessmentandwouldhavetobetailoredtoyourparticularcircumstances.

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Equipmenttobeused

• Vehicleofadequatecapability• Lashingscompatiblewithvehicleanchor

points• Twistlockswherefitted• Ratedchainscompatiblewithvehicle

anchorpoints• SafetyHarness• Liftingplatform• Forklift

PersonsInvolved

• TransportManager• YardForeman/Supervisor• LorryLoaderOperator/Driver• ForkLiftTruckDriver

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Hazard Persons Affected Remedy Responsibility

FurtherAction

LoadSafetyIsloadstableenoughtobeloaded?

Operator,Driver Ensurestabilityofloadbeforeloadingontovehicle

YardForeman

Ensurefutureloadsareproperlystabilizedbeforeloading...

Isthevehiclesuitableforthisload?

Operator,Driver,Public

Usealternativevehicleifunsuitable YardForeman

Ensurefuturevehiclescomplywithprocedure

Staircasesandrampsneedtogowithload

Operator,Driver,Public

Organizealternativetransport TransportManager

Donotallowextraneouslooseequipmenttoaccompanyload

Anchoragepointsdonotcomplywithload

Operator,Driver,Public

Usealternativevehicle TransportManager

Arrangeforalternativeanchoragepointstobefitted

Can’tgetloadnearheadboardwithload

Operator,Driver,Public

Usedunnagee.g.palletstofillvoidandsecurethosetovehicle

YardOperator/Loader

Fallsfromheightwhilstsecuringload

Operator,Driver Harnessmustbewornandsecuredattop

Yardforeman

Ladderorstepsmustbesecuredattoporliftingplatformused

Throwingharnessstrapsoverloadmaycauseinjury

Operators,Visitors,Driver,Contractors

Ensureareaisclearedandallpersonsareawareofactivity

Yardforeman

Arrangeawarningsystem

Drivernotadequatelytrainedforthisload/journey

Driver,Public,OtherRoadUsers

Drivermustnotbeusedonthisrouteuntiltrained.useanotherdriver.

TransportManager

Ensurealldriversareadequatelytrained

Vehiclefittedwithtwistlocksbutcabinisnot

Operators,Driver,Public

Loadagainstheadboardanduseanchoragepointsandlashingsasprescribed

YardForeman

Checkfutureloadsforsameproblem

Cabinisheavyononeendandmayslipifhardbreaking

Operators,Visitors,Public,Contractors

Loadwithheaviestpartnearercentreofvehicleandlashaccordingly

YardOperator/Loader

Ensureloadisproperlysecuredusingprescribedmethods

Loadisoverhanging Public,Driver,OtherRoadUsers

Checkwithlocalauthorityontherouteandarrangeescortasrequired

TransportManager

Checkfutureroutesforsameproblem

Loadistoohighfortheroutei.e.bridgesandunderpasses

Public,Driver,OtherRoadUsers

Checkwithlocalauthorityontherouteandarrangeescortasrequired.Re-arrangeanewroute

TransportManager

Checkfutureroutesforsameproblem

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REGULATIONS

FurtherreadingonthissubjectanddocumentsusedinthepreparationofthisGuidance.

• TheHealth&SafetyatWorkEtc.Act1974• TheRoadTrafficAct1988• TheRoadVehicles(ConstructionandUse)Regulations1986• Immobilisationpolicy(www.gov.uk/Government/Publications/immobilisation-

of-a-vehicle)• DepartmentofTransportSafetyofloadsonvehicles• TheManagementofHealth&SafetyatWorkRegulations1999• TheProvision&UseofWorkEquipmentRegulations1998• TheLiftingOperations&LiftingEquipmentRegulations1998• TheWorkplace(Health,Safety&Welfare)Regulations1992• FTA-EnforcementofLoadSecurity(FreightTransportAssociationGuidance)• HealthandSafetyExecutiveGuidanceonRiskassessments

Theabovelistisnotexhaustiveandmembersmustensureotherregulatoryguidancerelevanttotheoperationscontainedwithinthiscodeofpracticeisfollowed,andmustreviewprocedurestoensureanynewActsorRegulationsarealsoconsidered.

TheMPBAwouldliketothankthefollowingmemberorganisationsfortheprovisionoftheHealth&SafetyandTransportProfessionalswhocontributedtotheproductionofthisdocument;

• AquaTec CoatingsLimited• AshteadPlantHireCompanylimited• DavidWatsonTransportLimited• ElliottGroupLimited• MobileMiniUKHoldingsLimited• Portakabin Limited• PremierModularLimited• Wernick GroupLimited

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT