Workplace transport safety An employers' guide - ARRI Lighting Rental

Health and Safety
Executive
796 See the sections on deliveries in the chapter Organising for safety (paragraphs
182-227) for further information on co-operating between suppliers, hauliers and
people receiving deliveries. See paragraphs 172-181 for more information about
shared workplaces.
797 No one should be around during loading or unloading if they are not needed.
798 It is often unrealistic and sometimes unsafe to expect drivers to stay in their
cab while their vehicle is being loaded or unloaded. A designated safe area for
visiting drivers with easy, safe access to toilet and refreshment facilities reduces
risks considerably. A safe area may be needed for drivers to watch the loading or
unloading.
799 Workers who do need to be in the same area as loading or unloading (for
example people who are involved in the work) should be segregated from vehicle
movement wherever this can reasonably be achieved, and specific systems of
work should be applied to make sure the driver does not move the vehicle unless
everyone involved is known to be in a safe place.
800 The vehicle should be as level, stable and stationary as possible. All of the
vehicle and trailer brakes should be applied and any stabilisers should always be
used.
801 Wherever possible during loading, follow these principles:
n loads should be spread as evenly as possible during loading, moving and
unloading. Unbalanced loads can make the vehicle or trailer unstable, or
overload individual axles. See paragraphs 839-841 for advice about trimming a
load to make sure it is evenly balanced;
n balancing the load is important to make sure the trailer moves predictably and
safely;
n generally, loads should rest as close as possible to the bulkhead;
n however, avoid loading drawbar trailers too far forwards, because this can lead
to a snaking effect as the combination moves forwards;
n avoid loading to the back of the trailer, because this can cause the trailer to
tip backwards (especially for single-axle trailers). This can reduce the grip the
vehicle has on the road surface, as the wheels are lifted away from the ground;
n loads should be arranged close to the middle of the trailer and slightly
forward of it to place enough downward force on the tow bar to keep the
trailer coupled, but not enough to put too much pressure on the tow vehicle
suspension or hitch;
n loads should be balanced across the axle (or axles) of a drawbar trailer so that
coupling or uncoupling can be managed easily and safely, and so that the
trailer is stable when being transported;
n wherever possible, drawbar trailers should be coupled (or uncoupled) unloaded,
as this makes them easier to handle and generally safer to work with.
802 Unbalanced single-axle trailers are also dangerous as they can tilt dangerously
during coupling or uncoupling, shifting loads or trapping anything underneath.
803 Loads gathered right at the front and back of a trailer may be safely balanced,
but can be harder to control when being transported as the weight distribution
causes the trailer to swing out further than a trailer loaded towards the centre of
gravity.
804 Normally, the load should be arranged so that it does not block the driver’s
field of vision, including the rear view through the mirrors.
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