PLANT MOVEMENT ON SITE

PLANT MOVEMENT ON SITE

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Every year about 70 people are killed in workplace transport related accidents in UK. There are also 6000 reportable injuries attributable to transport. The majority of accidents involve people being hit, run over or from materials falling from vehicles. Everyone must be aware of and follow the procedures if this tragic toll is to be reduced

HAZARDS

• Reversing vehicles or plant where the driver has no vision in the area
• Hidden ground conditions or poor loading causing vehicles or plant to load
• Inadequate space for pedestrian and vehicles or plant to pass safely
• Poorly maintained vehicles or plant, with particular reference to brakes, mirrors, horns and lights

HEALTH AND SAFETY POINTS

• No vehicles or plant must be allowed to reverse on site unless the driver has clear unobstructed vision into the area or a banksman has been provided to give guidance
• The driver of a reversing vehicle or plant must keep the banksman in constant visual contact and must stop when he cannot see the banksman
• Banksmen may be required regardless of the need to reverse where the working area is restricted or congested or there are unseen or potential hazads
• The banksman should inform the driver of all hazards in the area , ie ground conditions overhead powerlines
• The driver of any vehicle or plant is responsible for ensuring the safety the vehicle or plant and that all warnings are working correctly, faults must be reported and rectified
• Operators when out of their cabs are pedestrians and must be aware of other plant operating
• Banksman must position themselves so that they are not put at risk from the possibility of materials falling form vehicles or plant or from the vehicle or plant itself should it overturn
• Banksmen must be alert at all times to changing circumstances and be on the look out for pedestrians and other workers
• Banksmen must ensure that where there is inadequate room for a vehicle or plant and pedestrians to pass safely that persons are moved away before the vehicle or plant is allowed to proceed
• Banksmen must not leave the area of their responsiblitiy until the operation has ceased or they are relieved by another authorised banksman
• Drivers of plant and vehicles should not preceed without the aid of a banksmen unless they are instructed to do so by ans authorized supervisor

 

QUSTIONS

• What else apart from people do banksmen ahve to look out for?
• When, apart from reversing vehicles, are banksmen needed?
• When can a banksman leave his area?

SAFETY REMINDER

Moving plant is unforgiving if anyone gets in its way remember to make sure that operators know of your presence.