Part 3: Keeping vehicles up to scratch

Maintenance and regular servicing of road-going vehicles is hugely important to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians. The same applies to workplace transport and associated equipment.

Example

In one incident an employee received minor injuries when a forklift truck fell from a loading bay on to ground below when an unsecured trailer rolled away from the bay. A restraining system for trailers installed following a previous incident had not been maintained.

It was found that there was no safe system of work to ensure trailers were braked/chocked. The company was fined £3,500 with costs of £750.

Risk management

Consider the following when assessing risks associated with workplace vehicles:

> Are vehicles are fitted with the kinds of safety features you would expect to find on cars, vans or lorries - horns, lights, indicators, reversing lights/alarms, seat belts, parking brakes and mirrors?

> Where needed, are vehicles fitted with guards to prevent exposure to engine parts, chain-drives, exhaust pipes, etc?

> Do your vehicles provide protection to the driver? Risks include over-turning vehicles, falling objects, exposure to bad weather, fumes or dust and excessive noise and vibration

> Are procedures in place so that basic vehicle safety checks are carried out by drivers before use? Vehicles and associated equipment should also undergo regular checks and maintenance at the predetermined times or mileage intervals as recommended by the manufacturer.

Apart from the safety benefits, if you look after your vehicles, and make sure your workers do likewise, they'll last longer and be more reliable.