An Introduction to Health & Safety

Workplace Transport

What are the risks from transport in your workplace?

Every year about 70 people are killed and about 2500 seriously injured in accidents involving vehicles at the workplace. Being struck or run over by moving vehicles, falling from vehicles, or vehicles overturning are the most common causes. Vehicles operating in the workplace include cars and vans, lift trucks, heavy goods vehicles, dumpers, specialised vehicles or plant. Often there is significantly more danger from vehicles in the workplace than on the public highway since the operating conditions are different.

Does this concern me?

Do you have vehicles in operation at your workplace? If so what kinds of vehicles are they?

Do you know who is allowed to drive or operate them? They should be trained and competent.

Do your drivers know which routes around the work-place are they allowed to use?

Do vehicles have to do reversing manoeuvres?

How are loading and unloading operations carried out?

Are pedestrians separated from vehicle movements as much as possible?

Are all vehicles properly maintained?

Do you actively control driving behaviour?

What law applies?

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 - regulation 9 is relevant to training

Construction (Health and Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996

How and where you can get more help

'Reversing vehicles' INDG148 FREE (available in packs of 15 ISBN 0 7176 1063 2 £5.00)

'Workplace transport safety - guidance for employers' HSG136 ISBN 0 7176 0935 9 £7.50

'Safety in working with lift trucks' HSG6 ISBN 0 7176 1781 5 £6.50

'Managing vehicle safety at the workplace: A short guide for employers' INDG199 FREE (available in packs of 10 ISBN 0 7176 0982 0 £5.00)

You can order any of these titles through HSE Books.