HSE launches campaign to reduce falls from vehicles
Date: 20 September 2007
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The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a campaign to try to reduce the number of injuries resulting from falls from a vehicle.
Up to 2,000 workers each year are seriously injured after falling from vehicles - such as freight haulage vehicles - with around five of these dying. The estimated economic and human cost is £36.7 million.
The vast majority of these are from below head height but, as the HSE notes, "you don't have to fall far to land hard".
A website has been set up to educate drivers and operators on the best ways of preventing such falls happening.
It reminds people of areas to consider: access to the vehicle, surfaces, footwear, planning loading and unloading, environment, housekeeping, ground level controls, and maintenance.
For example, in terms of vehicle access, people should plan to avoid work at height wherever possible when carrying out loading, maintaining or cleaning duties. Where this is not practical, work equipment should be used to minimise the distance of a fall.
In terms of surfaces, the HSE notes that the materials used for vehicle load beds often become wet and slippery. Composite resin and aggregate surfaces can maximise the slip-resistance in wet and dry conditions, but aluminium chequer plate performs quite badly when wet.
To remind managers and drivers of the principles, the website also has downloadable posters, as well as case studies of operators who have made improvements themselves.
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