Industry Tail-lift guidance published (May 2009)

The Institute of Road Traffic Engineers (IRTE) have published new advice on reducing injuries caused by falls, such as the available options for side guardrails, and advice about slip resistance of tail lift surfaces.  The IRTE guidance is available free.

HSE working with VOSA to reduce risks of workplace injuries and road traffic incidents (April 2009)

HSE have carried out a number of joint inspections  with VOSA to help tackle the issue of poorly secured loads on vehicles.  Lost loads can lead to traffic delays, traffic collisions, and fatalities and serious injuries to workers loading and unloading vehicles where a load has shifted in transit.  More information on the checks.

HSE support new IOSH warehousing group.  (February 2009)

HSE have pledged support to a new IOSH group which aims to address issues in the warehouse and storage industry. The group will coordinate with the Road Distribution Action Group to ensure that hazards that sometimes fall between the haulage and warehousing activities are fully covered.  More information about the work of the IOSH warehousing group will appear here in the summer.

Falls from vehicles (January 2009)

Every year, around 2000 people are seriously injured falling from vehicles. HSE are re-run their media campaign to reduce the number of injuries caused by people falling from vehicles. More details can be found on the Falls from vehicles campaign pages. 

Haulage fatalities feature heavily in the news (October 2008)

October has brought about a number of news articles highlighting the potential deadly consequences of everyday haulage work, including;

• HSE warns about dangers of falling from vehicles following death of tanker driver
• Driver killed while unsafely moving goods between lorries
• Pedestrian killed while guiding a reversing lorry

HSE Firm up their line on coupling articulated vehicles (September 2008)

HSE have drafted guidance for inspectors which firms up HSE commitment to the IRTE Code of Practice ‘Coupling or Uncoupling & Parking of Large Goods Vehicle Trailers’.   In particular, the new inspector guidance makes it clear that the coupling procedure must include use of the mechanical trailer parking brakes, or an equivalent physical means of preventing a trailer moving.

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (August 2008)

HSE is actively involved in helping the Driving Standards Agency and Skills for Logistics to develop training material for the new Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC).  More information on the DCPC can be found at the ‘Transport Office’ website.