Workplace Transport and Driving
Deliveries and Loading

Deliveries and Loading

Deliveries

Where external deliveries are made to site, the delivery driver should be made aware of the BBC site arrangements. Deliveries and collections can be some of the most dangerous transport activities. A significant number of transport accidents in the workplace take place during deliveries.

As far as possible, parking, loading and unloading should be off the road or pavement, well away from the public. Where this is not possible, consider any risks to members of the public who drive or walk near the vehicle, and include this in the risk assessment.

Control risks during deliveries:

Where possible, present the side of the vehicle with easiest access to the workplace
When manoeuvring on public roads, remember that public traffic and pedestrians have priority and that signallers have no legal authority to stop traffic on the public highway. If cones or barriers are to be used, discuss this with the local police and highway authority, and don't direct pedestrians on to the road
If using lift trucks, make sure drivers are aware of increased risk of turnover from driving over kerbs or over road cambers, and make sure they know the correct driving procedures for these conditions
If articulated vehicles are being coupled or uncoupled, check that drivers know how to park them. Make sure drivers understand the correct use of parking and hand brakes, and that they use them
Make sure drivers receive adequate safety information for each delivery or collection beforehand, such as restrictions on the type of vehicle the site can handle, or problems such as one-way systems or low bridges. If possible, provide a site plan including parking, location of reception, route through the site, location of unloading areas, driver waiting areas, and written information on procedures for visiting drivers (e.g. wearing high-visibility vests, limits on mobile phone use, prohibitions or special conditions for reversing such as using a banks-man)
Use the BBC accident reporting system to report any accident or near misses. Exchange the information with all the other parties involved and take action on the reports
Give training to drivers in general safety precautions so that they can deal with unexpected situations and they know what to do if they are not satisfied with safety arrangements when visiting sites. Give them simple safety checklists to help evaluate site safety
Make sure drivers and site staff know what to do if a load appears to have shifted in transit
If you receive deliveries, consider giving responsibility for authorising unloading to a specific employee who will be present during the process. They should have the authority to refuse or halt unloading if there are safety problems, and should be confident that a decision to refuse delivery will be supported by management
The BBC must ensure that all lifting operations are properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner. Make sure that lifting equipment is suitable for the use it is being put to, marked with its safe working load, properly maintained and inspected and receives a periodic thorough examination

Loading Bays

Safe systems of work and physical protective measures should be devised to:

prevent falls at the edge of a loading bay
prevent people being trapped or injured by manoeuvring vehicles
prevent people being trapped by any levelling ramp
ensure that machinery is properly guarded
ensure the area is adequately lit
exclude non-essential vehicles or people
ensure that vehicles are not parked with engines running unless there is adequate ventilation.

Loading and unloading

Loading and unloading can be dangerous. Heavy, hot, cold or corrosive loads, moving vehicles, overturning vehicles and working at height can all lead to injuries or death.

Loading and unloading areas should be:

Clear of overhead cables, pipes, or other dangerous obstructions
Level to maintain stability. Trailers should be parked on firm level ground
Fenced or provided with other edge protection where there is a danger of people falling
Protected against bad weather, e.g. strong winds can be very dangerous during loading.

Preventing falls from vehicles.

A common accident cause is drivers, maintenance workers falling from vehicle load areas when assisting in (un)loading or carrying out maintenance work to equipment fixed to the vehicle roof. There is a general hierarchy on preventing falls from vehicles:

Avoid the need for people to go up high on a vehicle. Design out the need, both in terms of vehicle design and the ways vehicles are used
If access to height is unavoidable, provide on-vehicle fall prevention systems so the safeguards travel with the vehicle (e.g. safe means of access in the form of guard railed platforms for accessed areas on vehicles)
Some harness systems using on-vehicle anchor points or lines are available. These may be an acceptable solution if on-vehicle guardrails are not available
If on-vehicle solutions are not feasible, provide off-vehicle safe access such as fixed or portable platforms/gantries at each site where access to height is needed. There are problems guaranteeing such off-vehicle equipment will always be available when access is needed
Off-vehicle fall prevention / restraint systems using harnesses fixed to anchor points / in the roof space may also be provided.

The above hierarchy can only be a general guide. Preference should be given to measures which protect anyone who may go up on a vehicle, rather than relying on a harness system any PPE solution relies heavily on good training, instruction and supervision.

Workplace Transport and Driving Deliveries and Loading

Workplace Transport and Driving
Deliveries and Loading