What are the risks from transport in your workplace?

Workplace transport is the second biggest cause of fatal accidents in British workplaces, killing around a hundred and injuring thousands of people every year.

The vast majority of these accidents are preventable. Being struck or run over by moving vehicles, falling from vehicles, being hit by something falling from a vehicle or vehicles over-turning are the most common causes of workplace transport accidents. Often there is significantly more danger from vehicles in the workplace than on the public highway because the operating conditions are different.
If you have vehicles working on your site you need to consider:

• What kind of vehicles are they?
• Who is allowed to drive or operate them? They should be trained and competent. Refresher training should be available when it is necessary.
• Do drivers know which routes in the workplace they are allowed to use?
• Do vehicles need 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?

You will need to:

• identify the risks associated with vehicle activities at your workplace;
• identify who might be harmed, eg drivers, other employees and members of the public;
• evaluate the risks, ie the likelihood that harm will occur and its severity. Assess whether existing precautions are adequate or whether further precautions are needed;
• if you have five or more employees you must record the findings of your assessment;
• revise your risk assessment when there is a new vehicle or you change your work routine. It is good practice to check the risk assessment from time to time to check that it is still relevant.

Further information:

• Workplace transport website
• Road safety website

For specific information and advice on workplace transport you can ring 0870 099 0099 which is a new helpline developed by HSE and the Freight Transport Association.