Kevin Wilkinson looks at one of the most common occurrences on a busy construction site – the
loading and unloading of vehicles – and explains how workers can stay safe and keep the flow of site
traffic moving efficiently
Kevin Wilkinson looks at one of the most common occurrences on a busy construction site - the
loading and unloading of vehicles - and explains how workers can stay safe and keep the flow of site
traffic moving efficiently
One of the busiest areas on any
construction site is the loading
and unloading area. With a
continuous flow of traffic moving goods
back and forth, the rules governing
health and safety need to be properly
enforced to minimise the risk of injury
to staff as much as possible. With a high
number of vehicles on most sites, this is
one of the most significant areas of
safety. According to the HSE, a
staggering 90% of vehicle injuries from
all industries occur at below head height,
making the loading and unloading of
vehicles even more precarious.
In the last few years the pattern of workrelated
accidents and fatal injuries has
barely changed, with falls from heights
continuing to be one of the highest causes
of fatal injury in the workplace. On sites
with a constant flow of goods coming and
going, reducing the risk for both
employees and employers creates a
dramatically improved working
environment, lessening the chance of
great cost, both financially and otherwise
that such accidents can cause.
Primarily, incidents involving vehicles
happen because drivers have not used the
equipment provided or the correct
methods for checking loads. It is often
quicker to climb up the back or side of a
lorry rather than use the correct safety
methods and equipment provided.
Even though the 2005 Working at
Height Regulations apply to the checking,
loading and unloading of vehicles and the
fact that employers have a duty of care to
assess the risks of working at height, many
workers still fail to follow correct
procedures. This could be down to several
reasons; lack of time, lack of equipment or
equipment that is time consuming to put
in place. It is often easier to simply climb
up the back or side of the lorry to check
the load but this is a dangerous habit that
can have drastic consequences if the worst
should happen. In the construction
industry alone 70% of falls from vehicles
happen to non-drivers, and most of these
happen during the loading and unloading
stages.
Setting up safety systems
Perhaps the most recognised protection
system is the safety air cushion or airbag.
Although effective it can be cumbersome
and time consuming to set up, plus there is
little flexibility with regards to moving the
system around to accommodate workers
due to the large footprint required. Also,
they sometimes rely on air pressure fed
from a compressor to fill and maintain the
air supply, which is time consuming and
may require fuel to operate.
Realistically, a safety system for any
such site must be quick to set up, easily
manoeuvrable when on site, and simple
for drivers or workers to use. One solution
is a loading platform with a flexible,
lightweight design. Loading platforms vary
greatly in both size and siting flexibility.
Ideally the most efficient platform is one
that can be easily positioned on site to
allow the stream of vehicles to flow
smoothly. A platform of this nature must
be able to be easily positioned on site using
available plant vehicles such as forklifts.
Stability is also an important element as
ground is often uneven so by using a
platform stabilized by water filled ballast
tanks can offer a steady and safe area from
which to work. Furthermore, due to the
busy nature of most construction sites a
loading platform must be easy to operate,
preferably by as few people as possible.
In addition to the above, a key element
of an effective platform is a safety rail that
travels the entire length of the platform
with an access point for users. Easy access
such as a central stair or a harness which
can clip anywhere along the length of the
rail are also two important safety elements
to look out for if looking to use a loading
platform. This type of platform goes a step
further than alternative safety methods by
dramatically reducing the risk of a fall,
rather than just the risk of injury from a
fall. It is simple and quick for
drivers/operators to use therefore
dissuading them from continuing to use
unsafe practices during the loading,
unloading and checking of vehicles.
In the face of such stark figures on
injury and fatality when working at height,
a loading platform is a key solution to
reducing the risk of accidents. The simple
nature of the design also frees up workers
and saves valuable time to help a site run
more smoothly for all involved.
Kevin Wilkinson is product manager for
LoadSafe Platforms by Tata Steel
