Falls From Vehicles Campaign September 2016
Over the past two years Highways England has seen a rise in the number of falls from road and plant vehicles resulting in 12 RIDDOR reportable injuries, representing 13% of the total. These have included three broken legs, three broken ankles a fractured wrist and five serious sprains. Seven of these incidents involved traffic management operatives. Many of these incidents have occurred when people egress vehicles on to uneven ground including planed edges, kerbs, debris and excavations. Other causal factors have included inadequate planning, poorly designed vehicle access, equipment maintenance, poor housekeeping, drivers ‘jumping’ down from vehicles and poor lighting. With this in mind please ensure you are doing all you can to mitigate this risk. Most of these accidents can be avoided if everyone on site does their bit to make the workplace safer.
The latest campaign, available for use from September 2016 is championed by bmJV and Highways England, with focus on common hazards and suitable controls, is to cover “Falls from vehicles”
Resource information, available on the hub H&S website (www.highwayssafetyhub.com), is aimed at raising awareness on common and often repeat issues presented during access to and exit from vehicles, items of mobile plant equipment and the beds of trailers and above.
It should be noted that this topic has and remains an issue in all industries and walks of life, not just in a highways working environment, but that simple controls are available for use by everyone to remove, reduce and control everyday risks / hazards presented.
Below are summary listings of documents, comprising of reminders and worked examples, including Raising the bar 25, safety alerts, bulletins and messages, tool box talks, PowerPoint Presentation and access to short duration videos, to cover injuries and learning attributed to “Falls from vehicles”
Hub H&S Campaign 5 (available for use from September 2016)
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge is to promote and encourage “buy-in” with understanding in the use and benefits of carrying out simple checks on vehicles, mobile plant equipment, and the beds of trailers, ensuring that controls are put in place, each day / shift, by users and supervisors
THE REQUEST
The request is to review existing controls against the content of appendices 3 to 7 referred to in Section 1 below, ensuring that personnel under your respective control are aware of the;
THE GOAL
To improve awareness about the risks/hazards, promote the carrying out of simple checks, be pro-active in timely responses to issues and concerns raised, and ultimately, to reduce the numbers and frequency of injuries, incidents and near misses attributed to “falls from vehicles”
Raising the bar 25 “Loading and unloading vehicles” (Version I, Jul 14)
Text extract covering objective and background reads as follows:
Objective
Raising the bar 25 Loading & Unloading Vehicles –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-safety-for-major-road-schemes-loading-and-unloading-vehicles
Raising the bar 14 Slips, Trips & Falls -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-safety-for-major-road-schemes-slips-trips-and-falls
Presentation
The following presentation explains why we are having this campaign and the resources available;
Over the past two years Highways England has seen a rise in the number of falls from road and plant vehicles resulting in 12 RIDDOR reportable injuries, representing 13% of the total. These have included three broken legs, three broken ankles a fractured wrist and five serious sprains. Seven of these incidents involved traffic management operatives. Many of these incidents have occurred when people egress vehicles on to uneven ground including planed edges, kerbs, debris and excavations. Other causal factors have included inadequate planning, poorly designed vehicle access, equipment maintenance, poor housekeeping, drivers ‘jumping’ down from vehicles and poor lighting. With this in mind please ensure you are doing all you can to mitigate this risk. Most of these accidents can be avoided if everyone on site does their bit to make the workplace safer.
The latest campaign, available for use from September 2016 is championed by bmJV and Highways England, with focus on common hazards and suitable controls, is to cover “Falls from vehicles”
Resource information, available on the hub H&S website (www.highwayssafetyhub.com), is aimed at raising awareness on common and often repeat issues presented during access to and exit from vehicles, items of mobile plant equipment and the beds of trailers and above.
It should be noted that this topic has and remains an issue in all industries and walks of life, not just in a highways working environment, but that simple controls are available for use by everyone to remove, reduce and control everyday risks / hazards presented.
Below are summary listings of documents, comprising of reminders and worked examples, including Raising the bar 25, safety alerts, bulletins and messages, tool box talks, PowerPoint Presentation and access to short duration videos, to cover injuries and learning attributed to “Falls from vehicles”
Hub H&S Campaign 5 (available for use from September 2016)
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge is to promote and encourage “buy-in” with understanding in the use and benefits of carrying out simple checks on vehicles, mobile plant equipment, and the beds of trailers, ensuring that controls are put in place, each day / shift, by users and supervisors
THE REQUEST
The request is to review existing controls against the content of appendices 3 to 7 referred to in Section 1 below, ensuring that personnel under your respective control are aware of the;
- Simple checks - that if carried out will serve to promote safe entry and exit from vehicles, mobile plant equipment, and the beds of trailers and above
- Benefits - of good housekeeping, and the maintenance of surfaces to be trafficked by pedestrians
- Discipline - of safe and appropriate parking and/or stopping prior to alighting, recognising that many injuries have been attributed to the 1st step from the vehicle or mobile plant equipment etc, onto the ground or floor surface
THE GOAL
To improve awareness about the risks/hazards, promote the carrying out of simple checks, be pro-active in timely responses to issues and concerns raised, and ultimately, to reduce the numbers and frequency of injuries, incidents and near misses attributed to “falls from vehicles”
Raising the bar 25 “Loading and unloading vehicles” (Version I, Jul 14)
Text extract covering objective and background reads as follows:
Objective
- To help reduce the number of loading and unloading of vehicles related injuries and incidents, recognising the benefit of common user controls (minimum standards) and by promoting learning, understanding and good practices for operations where loading and unloading vehicles is undertaken.
- Three million people in Great Britain work on or near vehicles as part of their regular job. Access to vehicles to carry out loading/unloading operations and working at height from vehicles and the beds of vehicle trailers and above are often viewed as incidental to the main job.
- Because of this, the risks involved may not be properly considered by both workers and their managers.
- In addition the loading and unloading of vehicles needs to be carefully planned as access to the bed of a vehicle is only one of the risks associated with loads and vehicle use.
Raising the bar 25 Loading & Unloading Vehicles –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-safety-for-major-road-schemes-loading-and-unloading-vehicles
Raising the bar 14 Slips, Trips & Falls -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-safety-for-major-road-schemes-slips-trips-and-falls
Presentation
The following presentation explains why we are having this campaign and the resources available;
| falls_from_vehicles_introduction_toolbox_talk.pptm |
SHARE LINK (HE only); http://share/Share/llisapi.dll?func=ll&objaction=overview&objid=41814448
HSE Appendices
Copies of the following appendices, incorporated into text of the RtB 25 document, are provided separately for information, reference and use with this campaign:
HSE Appendices
Copies of the following appendices, incorporated into text of the RtB 25 document, are provided separately for information, reference and use with this campaign:
| app_1_-_hse_case_study_2.pdf |
| app_2_-_hse_case_study_7.pdf |
| app_3_-_hse_vehicle__spec__check.pdf |
| app_4_-_hse_managers_checklist.pdf |
| app_5_-_hse_managers_poster.pdf |
| app_6_-_hse_workers_poster.pdf |
| app_7_-_indg_413_preventing_falls_from_vehicles.pdf |
Examples
List below are examples of safety alerts, bulletins and tool box talks, issued by contractors as a means of raising awareness to the hazards, and controls available in the prevention of “slips, trips and falls from vehicles and on the beds of trailers and above”.
List below are examples of safety alerts, bulletins and tool box talks, issued by contractors as a means of raising awareness to the hazards, and controls available in the prevention of “slips, trips and falls from vehicles and on the beds of trailers and above”.
- Analysis of each recognises commonality in the immediate and root causation of injuries (and near misses) recorded, irrespective of trade, location or personnel
- They have been split into 2 groups, (1) Watch your step, and (2) Vehicle safety, with simple reminders and key learning included in each. Their use individually would serve as timely reminders, typically for briefing as tool box talks
- In addition, they are listed in alphabetical originator name order, but moving backwards in time emphasising that irrespective of when messages were produced, whilst slips, trips and falls remains a common (repeat) issue, key learning and the development of controls has progressed and understanding improved… THEY JUST NEED TO BE USED!
Safety Bulletins & Alerts
Watch Your Step
Watch Your Step
| carillion_-_descending_from_plant_[apr_15].pdf |
| safety_alert_he174_-_falls_from_vehicles.pdf |
| he_161_-_slips___trips_in_supply_chain_[nov_15].pdf |
| ms_reminder_-_slip_trips___falls_[feb_15].ppt |
| bmjv_tbt_09_-_safe_parking_of_mobile_plant_[jun_14].ppt |
| costain_-_fall_from_excavator_[jun_14].pdf |
| crossrail_-_slips_trips___falls_[nov_14].pdf |
| ctm_-_watch_your_step_poster_[nov_11].docx |
| barhale_-_operative_slips_dismounting_flatbed_lorry_[aug_08].doc |
| know_which_side_you_are_on___bulletin.docx |
Vehicle Safety
VIDEO - The dangers of incorrect access / egress
| access_and_egress_video.wmv |
| ctm_-_security_of_cone_well_covers_[sep_15].pdf |
| eurovia_-_ankle_injury_[dec_14].pdf |
| galliford_-_maintenance_of_concrete_pumps_[mar_15].pdf |
| he_166_-_vehicle_safety_[dec_15].pdf |
| hw_martin_-_saf_frame_for_veh_flatbed_[mar_10]_info.pdf |
| nr_-_fall_from_bed_of_a_vehicle_[mar_16].docx |
| seesa_-_breach_of_golden_rules_north_hyde_[jul_09].pdf |
Analysis of AIRSWEB data
- To understand the magnitude of the problem, a review of injuries attributed to falls from vehicles reported to AIRSweb between April 2012 and January 2015 has been undertaken. This exercise mirrors that undertaken for a review of Raising the bar 14 “Slips, trips and falls”, with summary details included in the update of the document, issued in Nov 2015
- A total of 40 injuries, or varying severity, relating to falls from vehicles and slip and trips whilst on the beds of vehicles / trailers, were recorded. Analysis discovered that whilst there wasn’t a single causal factor but rather a selection of common risk factors, with the following recognised as immediate causes;
- 26 (65%) – Stepping from vehicle / plant onto the ground or floor surface
- 6 (15%) – Accessing or exiting the cone well (TM vehicles)
- 5 (13%) – Slips and trips on debris etc whilst walking across beds of trailers
- 3 (8%) – Other
- In most cases if the projects simply applied the statutory requirements or if the individual concerned applied greater awareness to the potential hazards then these injuries would not have occurred
Other Industry Guidance
Cemex
Cemex
- Suite of visual aids on slips, trips and falls, which includes reference to 11 short duration videos, the following being directly related to “Falls from vehicles”
- Scene 3 – Muddy boots
- Scene 8 – Exiting vehicles
| cemex_-_suite_of_visual_aids_on_slipstrips_and_falls.docx |
FORS
- Working at height and the prevention of falls from vehicles
| fors_-_working_from_height___the_prevention_of_falls_from_vehicles.pptx |
Fleet Transport Association
Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL)
NEW ! Slips, Trips & Falls from Vehicles guidance produced by the Off Highway Plant & Equipment Research Centre OPERC
| hrguideslipstrips.pdf |