safe transport is good for business - nina day

Health and Safety Executive

© Crown Copyright, HSE 2016 HSL: HSE’s Health and Safety Laboratory

Safe transport is good business

5th December 2016Nina Day CEng MIMechE

Senior Engineer, Road & Workplace Transport

HSL: HSE’s Health and Safety Laboratory © Crown Copyright, HSE 2016 © Crown Copyright, HSE 2016

•For many otherwise low-risk companies, transport will be their most dangerous work activity.

•Over half of all RIDDORs reported to HSE are transport-related.

•Transport is one of the highest risk work activities in terms of accident rate.


• When things go wrong in transport the consequences can be severe.


What are the problems?

• Unintended vehicle movements

• Vehicle collisions

• Falls from height

• Slips and trips

• Load movement

• Stress, fatigue, and time pressures


The costs of these issues can be substantial:

•Injuries and fatalities

•Product and vehicle damage

•Damage to work sites and public spaces

•Litigation and compensation costs

•Reputational damage


Past performance does not guarantee future safety

• “I’ve been driving for 25 years and never had a problem.”

• “We’ve been moving them like this for 15 years and it’s never been a problem.”

• “We’ve always done it like this.”

Drivers involved in KSI incidents tend to be experienced drivers.

The ‘perfect storm’ of events can happen at any time.

There likely have been problems – just minor ones.


Why do incidents occur?

• Fatal and serious injury incidents are rarely ‘one-off’ events.

• Usually they are the result of a ‘perfect storm’ of events.

• A failure to adequately assess and control the risks is a primary contributor to most incidents.

• In transport there is also often confusion over responsibility, and failure to communicate information.

• Condition of equipment is also a contributory factor.

• Time pressures, stress, and a culture of ‘getting the job done’ can increase the risk of a minor problem developing into a serious incident.


Legislation relating to transport

• Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended

• Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986

• Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

• The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations

• The Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations

And any other regulations that might apply (eg LOLER)


• The risks of transport must be assessed and controlled as far as is reasonably practicable.

• Information must be communicated and different parties must co-operate.

• Training and equipment must be provided to do the job.

• Everyone has a part to play.


So how can we control the risks of transport?

• Risk assessment is key.


It is always better to look at removing the risk rather than mitigating it. For example:

•Ground-level coupling

•Parking brake interlocks

•Re-routing pedestrian walkways


• Communication and clear lines of responsibility help to avoid problems.

• Near-miss reporting and a robust system of recording minor incidents can help to flag up issues.

• Be aware of particular needs of workers – younger workers, vulnerable workers, and temporary workers/visitors may need additional support.


• Make sure your site signage is clear and understandable.

• There should be enough light on the site for everyone to be able to work safely. Additional lighting may be needed in certain areas.

• Keep work areas clean and tidy – even small, light pieces of debris can lead to someone tripping up.

• Consider barriers or bollards to protect pedestrians from forklift trucks or vehicles.


• Load movement is a significant risk for commercial drivers.

• Unsecured loads can fall from the vehicle in transit or during unloading.

• Load movement can also significantly increase the risk of vehicle rollover.


• Is this load secure?


• All loads must be secured to withstand normal forces on the road.

• Loads that are not secured can and do move under normal driving conditions.

• Heavy loads can and do shift under normal driving conditions.

• Even small items can be lethal.

• Load movement tends to occur when the vehicle is changing speed and direction at the same time, eg on roundabouts.


What good practice looks like

• Risk assessment for loading and unloading

• A load securing system that meets the requirements of the DfT Code of Practice, Safety of Loads on Vehicles

• Training for loaders/drivers (if drivers are involved in loading)

• Communication between all parties in the transport chain


A new enforcement approach on the road

• First developed by HSE in 2009

• Aimed to introduce consistency to decision-making at the roadside

• Risk-based

• Iteratively refined over 3-year period

• Trialled by DVSA in 3 areas in 2012

• Introduced nationally by DVSA in 2013

• Now being rolled out to police forces


• Industry innovation in load control technology has also helped to reduce risk in other areas

• Systems like this remove the need to throw straps over the load, and help to avoid the need to work at height


• Getting transport right is in everyone’s interest.

• Risk assessment is key

• By taking simple, straightforward steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of serious incidents.


Thank you

safe transport is good for business - nina day

Automotive