Workplace transport
What you need to do...
The law says vehicles should be able to move around safely, be properly maintained and operators should be adequately trained. The key issues are:
- Stopping safely
- Safe vehicles
- Safe driver
- Safe site
- Overturning tractors and other self-propelled vehicles
- Quad bikes
- On the road
- Carrying dangerous goods
- Lifting operations
What you need to know...
The most common cause of serious and fatal injuries in agriculture involve moving and overturning vehicles.
Transport movements in and around the workplace need to be controlled to protect pedestrians, and to prevent damage to equipment and buildings.
Other incidents happen when people leave a vehicle without making sure it cannot move or cause injury in other ways.
Always:
- Make sure the vehicle braking system is working and properly maintained.
- Use the ‘safe stop’ procedure whenever you leave a vehicle.
- Lower to the ground any raised implements or loaders.
Safe stop
Safe stop is the most important safety action of all:
- Handbrake on.
- Controls in neutral.
- Engine off and remove key.
All transport tasks combine three factors – vehicle, driver and site. If you look at these factors separately, you may find it easier to identify problems and take action.
Safe vehicles
Check that vehicles, machines and handling equipment are:
- capable of safely performing the jobs you want them to do, with reversing aids such as mirrors;
- inspected daily and faults repaired promptly;
- properly maintained, paying particular attention to braking systems.
Check that your vehicles, or any machines with workers riding or working on them, are fitted with rollover protective structures (ROPS) and seatbelts if there is a risk of overturning.
Check that:
- drivers of materials handlers and loaders are protected from falling objects;
- loads are stable and secure;
- trailers have brakes designed for the maximum loads and speeds at which they will operate; and
- keys are kept secure when vehicles are not in use.
Safe driver
Check that drivers:
- are medically fit to drive;
- are properly trained and unauthorised people are not allowed to drive;
- know how to safely enter and exit the vehicle.
Never allow passengers to ride on or in vehicle cabs unless they are sitting in a safe position and cannot impede the driver, accidentally contact the machine controls, or obscure the driver’s vision. Use a passenger seat if provided.
Safe site
Check that:
- vehicles and pedestrians are separated where possible;
- visiting drivers are aware of your rules, for example parking areas and one-way systems;
- vehicle routes reduce the need to reverse, for example, by adding turning circles, or using one-way systems;
- traffic routes are properly maintained and adequately lit;
- warning and speed limit signs are clear and consistent with The Highway Code.
Overturning tractors and other self-propelled vehicles
You may only use a tractor or machine without ROPS in low-risk situations such as buildings and orchards or where specific exemptions exist. Where rollover protection is fitted, you should also have seatbelts fitted if a machine will be used in situations where there is a risk of overturning. To reduce the risk of an overturn:
- make sure that tractors and machines are properly equipped and maintained, especially brakes, steering and tyres. Consider wide wheel settings for work on slopes;
- plan the operation in advance, and make sure operators know the key elements of safe working on slopes.
Remember:
- you should always turn uphill when working across a slope, and descend straight down the gentlest gradient;
- you cannot always safely descend a slope that you safely drove up;
- tractor rear wheel grip lessens as the load of a rear-mounted machine is emptied;
- tractors with trailed rollers, four-wheel trailers etc will have extra thrust imposed with no additional weight – they may slide away out of control.
To reduce the risk of injury if you do overturn:
- stay in the cab and do not try to jump clear, as most deaths and serious injuries involve those who jump or are thrown out of a cab during overturning;
- check that the safety frame or cab is in good condition and correctly fitted. Corrosion and incorrect mounting bolts can cause the safety frame to fail in an overturn;
- never remove windows or doors from a safety cab;
- wear the seatbelts fitted, as this is a legal requirement where there is a risk of overturning. Consider fitting belts where not installed as original equipment;
- don’t carry loose items inside the cab as they may cause extra injury in an overturn.
Quad bikes
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) such as quad bikes have been involved in many serious incidents. Head injuries are the most common cause of death and everyone riding a quad bike should wear a suitable helmet and have received adequate training. You can get details of suitable training courses from franchised ATV dealers, manufacturers’ websites, EASI (European ATV Safety Institute), Forestry Commission, Lantra Awards and agricultural colleges.
On the road
Specific legislation applies to vehicles that travel on public highways. The primary enforcement bodies are the police and VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) – consult them for specific detailed advice. Some basic points to consider are:
- Maintenance. Maintain vehicles in a safe condition – the standards are the same for both on- and off-road use.
- Brakes. All trailers over 750 kg require some form of brakes. Many trailers only meet basic legal requirements when drawn at speeds up to 20 mph (32 kph). At faster speeds, trailer brakes need to meet higher standards to provide adequate braking and prevent excessive wear on the tractor system.
- Projections. Protect and mark all sharp and/or dangerous edges. You may need to cover or remove attachments on materials handlers for road use.
- Load security. Loads should be correctly distributed and suitably restrained to prevent shedding. They should not exceed the trailer capacity.
- Field entrances. Many accidents happen when farm vehicles are turning off or on to a road. You may be able to improve visibility around gateways by re-positioning them and making sure hedges are well trimmed. If possible, take a circular route to avoid right turns and keep vehicle indicators clean and in good working order.
Carrying dangerous goods
Under the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2007, certain rules apply when you carry dangerous goods by road, for example, acids, ammonium nitrate fertilisers, pesticides, and diesel fuel. Exemptions exist for trailers towed by agricultural or forestry tractors, but these do not apply for other vehicles such as landrovers.
Lifting operations
Properly plan and organise the lift, using appropriate equipment and competent people, to minimise the risks. Make sure that:
- a competent person thoroughly examines all lifting equipment (and tests it if necessary) Independent inspection organisations, including insurance companies, can help;
- safe working loads (SWLs) are marked on lifting equipment. Never exceed SWLs, or use damaged, makeshift or worn items;
- overload indicators on handling machines are in working order. Do not ignore them;
- loading operations are planned to minimise travel with loaders raised and carried out in a safe area away from power lines or other overhead obstructions. Whenever possible lower tractor fore-loaders for travel and keep telescopic handler booms retracted and lowered to maximise stability.
Never use grain buckets, pallets or other makeshift equipment for lifting people off the ground.
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