Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Road haulage and distribution
Slips and trips are the main cause of injury in the workplace for the distribution industry, and make up the largest portion of civil claims against employers. The Road Distribution Action Group has agreed to form a working group to find ways of reducing slip and trip accidents in the industry. Anybody wishing to take part in the working group, or suggest any ideas, can contact haulage@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
Every year, around 2000 people are seriously injured falling from vehicles. A recent prosecution, resulted in company being fined £120,000 following an employee’s fatal fall from a lorry trailer. HSE have started a new media campaign to reduce the number of injuries caused by people falling from vehicles. More details can be found on the Falls from vehicles campaign pages.
A new phase of HSE’s inspection campaign, which aims to target the key risk areas throughout the supply chain of the distribution industry, has now begun. More information on this work can be found in the Sector Information Minute (SIM) “Moving Goods Safely 3” [121KB]
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HSE is actively involved in helping the Driving Standards Agency to develop training material for the new Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC).
HSE have produced a new Sector Information Minute (SIM) about inspecting the road haulage and distribution industry [198KB]. The SIM is written for health and safety inspectors and is also fully available to anybody else with an interest on the topic.
HSE have produced a SIM about car transporter safety [59KB]. The SIM includes details of safety requirements, including working at height and lifting equipment. The SIM is written for health and safety inspectors, and is fully available to anybody else with an interest on the topic.
The Road Distribution Action Group has proposed five new working groups for 2007, to compliment the 3 strategic meetings which are held each year. The working groups will look at the following topics;
Outcomes from these working groups will be reported on this webpage when they are available.
HSE is working with Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police on a new three-year scheme to encourage freight operators in London to implement policies and procedures to improve safety, reduce environmental impact, and improve efficiency of movement and delivery.
The scheme includes the delegation of HSE’s inspection powers to the Commercial Vehicle Education Unit of the Metropolitan Police, to allow them to undertake company visits and raise awareness of good practice in managing the risks of driving at work. More information can be found at the Transport for London website.
HSE has published its guidance document on shift work. The guidance provides practical advice of controlling, managing and monitoring the risks of shift work.