Vehicle safety

The road is Britain's most dangerous workplace. TUC reported in 1999 that while 250 people were killed at work, a further 300 workers died whilst driving. But most road traffic accidents whilst working, including fatalities, aren't classified as 'work-related.' Construction workers face double jeopardy, whilst driving or working in the proximity of plant and machinery and while working on road construction and maintenance.

Between 1998 and 2003 construction and transport had the highest numbers of fatal workplace transport injuries of all industries.

Under Regulations 15 and 17 of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) regulations 1996 those in charge of construction sites must take steps to prevent site traffic accidents. There is also a duty to make traffic routes safe.

The 2003/4 HSE road safety programme of work says HSE aims to contribute to a reduction in fatal/major accidents in construction by reducing risk to workers and members of the public from being struck by mobile construction plant and vehicles through the promotion of:

Effective planning and management of construction transport risks;
The use of visibility aids to improve visibility where there is specific site risk;
Better driver visibility by design on the manufacture of new machines.
The European Agency?s factsheet Preventing vehicle transport accidents at the workplace states says one third of workplace fatalities in the EU each year are related to transport. It recommends five practical steps:

Identify potential vehicle hazards;
identify which workers are at risk;
evaluate the level of risk for each hazard;
set priorities for action and implement them; and
review risks assessments periodically.
The factsheet gives suggestions for implementing safe systems of work, including:

Avoid the need for reversing;
segregate vehicle and pedestrian traffic;
review the layout of vehicle routes;
assess suitability and then implement safety features such as speed limits, direction of traffic;
good lighting;
speed limits;
clear marking of edges of loading bays etc; and
ensure vehicles are maintained.
HSE?s in Managing vehicle safety at the workplace makes these additional points :

Check the layout of routes in the workplace is appropriate for vehicle and pedestrian activities;
check traffic routes are suitable for the type of vehicles used;
check vehicles are suitable for the purpose
check what work drivers are doing;
check with workers they are happy with their level of control/supervision;
check all vehicles are parked safely; and
check all loading/unloading operations are safely conducted.

A GMB guide gives action points for safety reps:

ensure your employer has carried out risk assessments on workplace transport safety;
ensure you are consulted on all matters relating to workplace transport safety e.g. the purchase of new equipment and any planned building works;
ensure you investigate all accidents relating to workplace transport safety; and
carry out regular three monthly joint inspections to assess ground conditions, housekeeping and whether vehicles are being maintained.

Tragedies such as the death of Stephen Hayward from Birkenhead - a 43-year-old worker on a bypass in Shropshire who was crushed by a lorry when directing traffic - have led to calls for improved safety for road construction workers.

In Australia the Australian Workers Union has introduced and is enforcing its own 'slow zones' at road works and is aiming to build 40 kph (25mph) and 25 kph (15mph) speed limits into all road work collective agreements.

To reduce deaths and injuries to workers building and maintaining America's roadways, US safety watchdog OSHA announced new rules in 1998 governing signs, signals and barricades aimed at lowering worker risk. According to OSHA, the new signage rules will include:

The mandatory use of reflectors and lights at traffic control zones set up around work sites;
advance warning signs for certain closed paved shoulders; and,
the implementation of special 'transition areas' to better facilitate merging when one lane is closed on busy multi-lane roadways.
Remember construction roadways present particular hazards:

They are often temporary, non metalled surfaces;
ramps can be excessively steep due to limited space;
surfaces can be unstable or slippery which may cause vehicles to overturn; and,
vehicles are frequently carrying large loads which may impede visibility, or heavy loads that can affect manoeuvrability.