CONTRACT RESEARCH REPORT 305/2000

1 Sheeting and unsheeting of non-tipperlorriesA health and safety scoping studyPrepared by System Concepts Ltdfor the Health and Safety ExecutiveCONTRACT RESEARCH REPORT305/2000iiSheeting and unsheeting of non-tipperlorriesA health and safety scoping studySally WearingTanya HeasmanSystem Concepts Ltd2 Savoy CourtStrand, LondonWC2R 0 EZThis REPORT contains the results of a study investigating the risks associated withthe covering and securing of loads on road haulage vehicles. The HSE haspublished guidance on how to sheet tipper lorries , however the risks for sheetingand unsheeting other vehicles, including waste carriers, flat beds and curtain-sidedvehicles, have not previously been comprehensively collected inputs from a wide range of sources, covering both the risks involvedand potential solutions.

2 Contributors included haulage and distribution companies,a wide range of manufacturing and other companies, drivers, trade associations,and equipment confirmed that the sheeting, covering and securing of loads can be high risktasks, which have the potential to kill and seriously injure people, especiallydrivers. We discovered that there are solutions available to eliminate or controlmost of the risks we identified. The problems are either already solvable, or couldbe with some more development and investigation. We believe that there is a needfor more enforcement, and more guidance, which should cover all risks, includingroad safety and environmental protection. There needs to be close co-operationand co-ordination between the relevant government REPORT and the work it describes were funded by the Health and SafetyExecutive.

3 Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, arethose of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy. Crown copyright 2000 Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to:Copyright Unit, Her Majesty s Stationery Office,St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1 BQFirst published 2000 ISBN 0 7176 1891 9 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmittedin any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the priorwritten permission of the copyright scope of the study 24 Study initiation and review .. analysis and 55 Accident bed of control 96 Summaries of sector , recycling and scrap metals drinks and and products concrete, bricks, blocks, tiles, and haulage and distribution 207 Risk bed 458 Assessment of bed official for specific for specific for specific 10111 Conclusions and further 105v2 EXECUTIVE INTRODUCTIONThe HSE has published guidance for tipper lorries but the hazards of sheeting and unsheetingother road haulage vehicles are not addressed in this range of vehicles have health and safety risks associated with how loads are covered (whetherby sheets, nets or curtains)

4 And secured. These include flat beds, waste vehicles, curtain-sidersand tilt trailers. Although it is known that accidents occur during the covering and securing ofloads on these vehicles, there is little collated information on what causes the accidents and inwhich industries they scope of the study was purposely broad to cover not only the range of vehicles describedabove, but also as wide a range of industries as possible, to find out which are different types of criminal law are relevant to the securing and covering of loads: healthand safety; road traffic; and environmental protection. They are drafted and enforced bydifferent government Concepts Ltd were commissioned by the HSE to conduct a study of the health andsafety issues associated with the sheeting and unsheeting of loads on vehicles other than tipperlorries.

5 The project took the form of a scoping study, to investigate the health and safety risksin a wide range of industry sectors, and to identify any good practice solutions that may reducethese risks. It also included making recommendations concerning the feasibility of publishingadvice/guidance on methods of sheeting/unsheeting that are applicable to non-tipper lorriesoperating in a wide range of :This project was a scoping study designed to: Identify risky tasks (and their location) associated with sheeting/unsheeting non-tipperlorries in different industry sectors Collect together information describing the type and scale of the problems Document any good practice solutions which help to reduce the frequency and/or severityof the health and safety problems in particular industry sectors Investigate whether and how the HSE Guidance (HSG 148) should be broadened to includenew technology and non-tipper the full REPORT we present an analysis and discussion of our findings.

6 We obtained andanalysed accident data. We interviewed companies and trade associations in nine industrialsectors. We visited a number of sites and carried out risk analyses of the tasks that we our visits, we also saw a number of solutions, which we assessed to determine whetherthey complied with good practice and legal requirements. We also reviewed the guidance thatis or will shortly be available, and assessed whether further guidance is RECOMMENDATIONSOur recommendations cover actions that might be taken by various parties involved inminimising accidents associated with the covering and securing of loads, includingmanufacturing companies, haulage and distribution companies, suppliers, trade associations andgovernment bodies.

7 We also outline areas in which we believe further RESEARCH should beconsidered. Where our recommendations are numbered, we have listed them in approximateorder of General recommendations Improve co-ordination and co-operation between the government bodies involved. Improve the training of goods vehicle drivers. Combine official guidance, so that employers have one source that covers all related risks. Revise the DETR Code of Practice on the safety of loads on vehicles. Continue the policy of pressurising manufacturers and site operators. Enforce legal requirements where necessary. Encourage more co-ordination by trade associations of their members. Control contractors by implementing suitable selection, supervision and monitoringprocedures.

8 Educate and persuade customers and suppliers, whose actions affect the health and safety ofdrivers and other people. Collect case study material to illustrate the application of different controls. Evaluate the feasibility of preparing a British or European Standard for load restraintsystems on curtain-sided Recommendations for specific risks1. Establish safe systems of work to control the interaction of the vehicle driver and the forklift truck Monitor and supervise safe systems of Install vehicle restraint systems where reasonably Use simpler systems (such as large stop signs or key retention systems) to prevent driverspulling away Establish preventative maintenance procedures6. Evaluate equipment to ensure that it is the most suitable Recommendations for specific vehiclesFlat bed vehicles1.

9 Follow the general principles of the HSE guidance for tipper Develop sheeting devices for flat bed vehicles, which will remove the need to climb on topof the Investigate the use of sheet support tables on flat bed Prepare and publish official guidance in the safe use of flat bed Investigate the practicability of sheeting or netting vehicles from the floor using two vehicles1. Establish safe systems for checking whether the load has shifted in transit and for dealingwith bulging Prepare and publish official guidance in the safe use of curtain-sided Establish and implement safe systems of work for opening and closing Ensure that there are safe means of access to the deck of all Recommendations for specific industriesThese recommendations are in addition to the ones in the preceding three and recycling industry1.

10 Complete and issue the industry guidance prepared by the Environmental Fit mechanised sheeting devices to all new vehicles and retro-fit to existing Install gantries at transfer stations and landfill Evaluate the use of platforms on transfer stations and landfill Improve the packing of bulkers and containers at transfer stations and civil amenity Evaluate and increase the use of vehicles and containers that do not need Develop sheeting devices Re-design access ladders on manufacturers1. Stop all double stacking of fertiliser Stop partial sheeting of the Install gantries at all sites where bags of fertiliser are loaded onto flat bed Improve the guidance drafted by the Fertiliser Manufacturers Use lightweight sheets instead of heavier Evaluate the use of platforms to analyse how much they reduce Fit mechanised sheeting devices as soon as they become Investigate the design of the fertiliser bags to find an alternative that does not retain , concrete and other hard products1.