What to do first?
To manage the risks from workplace transport effectively, you need to consider three key areas:
Safe site Safe vehicle
Safe driver
Some Dos and Don'ts
Do
Keep people and vehicles apart
Have clear site rules and enforce them
Anchor loads securely to the vehicle chassis
Avoid the need to work at height on vehicles
Don't
Operate vehicles unless you are authorised to do so
Safe Site
Safe site – design
Segregation
Every site is different and likely to present different hazards and risks. However, a well-designed and maintained site with suitable segregation of vehicles and people will make workplace transport accidents less likely.
The most effective way of ensuring pedestrians and vehicles move safely around a workplace is to provide separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic routes. Where possible, there should also be a one-way system as this will reduce the need for vehicles to reverse, and will help pedestrians and drivers.