Motorsport/Leisure Track Safety: trackside vehicle restraint barriers

Health and Safety Executive in conjunction with Fife Council - Safety notice

Issue

There can be a lack of awareness and understanding of the difference between the design, specification, and use of vehicle restraint barriers, versus the design, specification, and use of generic directional segregation barriers. Inappropriate, untested and or unapproved barriers must not be used as vehicle restraint barriers on tracks and circuits.

Outline of problem

Research carried out in the Local Authority enforced sector led to a wider piece of work carried out by health and safety enforcement officers. This has identified that there is a potential lack of awareness and understanding regarding the correct application and use of products as vehicle restraint barriers.

Action required

Persons with duties to ensure safety at Motorsport/Leisure track/circuit/s or event/s must fully understand the significance of selecting and using the correct type of vehicle restraint barrier/s, for competitive and non-competitive activities.

You must ensure that you, and those you give duties to, relating to vehicle restraint barrier safety, understand:

• they should consult the manufacturer and or supplier of the barrier to confirm it is suitable for its intended use on your track/circuit
• that generic segregation barriers are not necessarily designed for use as vehicle restraint barriers. Purpose made vehicle restraint barriers are available for use within the Motorsport sector
• the required maintenance and life cycle of the vehicle restraint barriers in use
• that all dutyholder/s have responsibilities for ensuring they are confident that the vehicle restraint barriers in use are appropriate and suitably installed, and have documentation to evidence this

Governing Bodies may be a contact for advice about the correct selection and use of appropriate vehicle restraint barriers.

Risks in motorsport

Motorsport is inherently dangerous; risk control and mitigation measures can be put in place to reduce many of the risks. It is important that duty holders and event organisers fully understand that they must select and suitably install appropriate vehicle restraint barriers. Failure to use appropriate vehicle restraint barriers may lead to serious safety incidents.

Use of barriers at motorsport/leisure tracks/circuits

Barriers may look and feel the same, but each type of barrier may have design differences and customisations to make them suitable for specific tasks.

Some barriers may be properly tested and or approved for vehicle impact, while others will not have been tested and or approved for this purpose. It is important that vehicle restraint barriers are selected and installed to be suitable for all intended uses. 

For example, use of generic plastic directional barriers, typically seen on construction sites, may not be designed to be used as vehicle restraint barriers on motorsport/leisure tracks/circuits.  

Dutyholders must ensure that vehicle restraint barriers are appropriate and suitably installed for their intended uses at Motorsport/Leisure track/circuits – see figures 1 and 2 and action required.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Enforcement expectation

If inappropriate and or unsuitably installed vehicle restraint barrier/s are identified in use at competition and or non-competition activities, the initial enforcement expectation is the service of a Prohibition Notice under The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Guidance

• Managing Health and Safety at Motorsport Events: A Guide for Motorsport Event Organisers (HSE HSG 112) as the source of further specific information.
• General information on health and safety can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website

Legislation

• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• The Motor Vehicles (Off Road Events) Regulations 1995 as amended.

General note

This information should be shared with anyone who may have an interest in Motorsport/ Leisure track/circuit and event safety decision making activities.

The key information about vehicle restraint barriers is applicable irrespective of whether you are a duty holder under The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.