Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Press Releases
HSE press release: E055:04 - 28 April 2004
The Health and Safety Executive will today launch new guidance designed to help reduce the risk of accidents that occur when transporting paper.
A new free leaflet on improving health and safety when transporting paper and paper products will be launched at a meeting of Chief Executives from the paper industry hosted by the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) at Center Point, London, WC1.
Talking about the guidance James Barrett, Head of HSE's
Manufacturing Sector said:
"Transporting paper is big business. It's amazing how much
paper is moved around the country every day. Unfortunately
accidents can happen and almost every month the HSE hears about an
incident involving transporting paper or paper products. Luckily
most of the incidents do not involve injury. When they do, the
consequences for workers, or even passing motorists can be
fatal."
"All too often the reason why a reel of paper falls from a lorry in a yard is because something has gone wrong with the system used to secure the load on the trailer, or the load has shifted in transit and falls out when the side curtains are opened. In some cases the risks are taken onto the road and lorries roll over or shed their loads onto passing motorists with obvious consequences. We produced this guidance with the help of producers, hauliers, trades unions and many others in the industry. Following the precautions outlined in the guidance on loading and securing paper, and when driving lorries transporting paper, will reduce the risk of incident and injury."
1. HSE's Manufacturing Sector covers a wide range of industries, including engineering, shipbuilding and repair, motor vehicle repair, textiles, printing, wood working, paper, rubber, plastics, metals, foundries, ceramics, quarries, glass, concrete, cement, and waste recycling - in all employing around 4 million working people.
2. The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) is the trade
association representing the paper and tissue making, paper
corrugating and paper recycling industries.
3. The UK uses around 12m tonnes of paper every year and most of it
is transported by road in curtain sided trailers. Injuries occur
when loading or unloading the vehicles due to lift truck movements,
paper falling from trailers and people falling from vehicles.
Around once a month a vehicle transporting paper rolls over on the
public highway. Most do so without injury, but the incidents cause
severe disruption and are costly. A few rollovers have been fatal
to the driver of the lorry or passing motorists, crushed by the
load. Research for HSE has demonstrated that rollovers can occur at
sharp bends and roundabouts at very low speeds, but a combination
of proper loading and safe driving can minimise the risks
significantly. The new guidance uses the results of this research
to provide some sensible advice on securing loads and safe
driving.
4. HSE publish a variety of general and industry specific guidance - copies are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel: 01787-881165 or fax: 01787-313995. http://www.hsebooks.com/ Priced publications are also available from good booksellers.
5. The new publication, "Transporting Paper Safely" (INDG 396) will be launched at an event for Chief Executives in the industry on 28 April at The CBI, Centre Point, London, organised for the paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee (PABIAC) by the Confederation of Paper Industries. Single copies are available, free, from HSE Books. The leaflet is also available in priced packs of 5, ISBN 0 7176 2837 X
PUBLIC ENQUIRIES: Call HSE's Infoline, tel: 0845 345 0055, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact, or write to: HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
Denise Lewisohn
020 7717 6918