Preventing vehicle runaways and unauthorised movement is vital – serious accidents and even fatalities can occur as a result. Make sure you introduce and monitor safe coupling and uncoupling procedures to prevent an accident happening on your premises.
Tips to Ensure Your Workers Undertake Vehicle Coupling and Uncoupling Safely
- Do a risk assessment to identify the hazards involving your particular type of vehicles and trailers. Look for ways in which workers could be run over or crushed, or how they could slip underneath vehicles if the ground conditions were bad, for example.
- Develop a safe system of work for workers to follow, with step-by-step instructions. Monitor the use of the procedure to check that workers are following it correctly.
- Provide training for workers on the safe system of work. Make sure they know how the hoses are to be connected in different circumstances, for example when close-coupled combinations are necessary when access to the fifth wheel may be limited.
- Always undertake an environmental check before commencing the activity – ensure that the ground is firm and level and able to properly support the landing legs. Verify that the lighting is good before starting work, as workers will need to be able to check that locking pins and safety clips are correctly connected and that they are in the right place.
- Make sure that drivers always use the parking brake for vehicles, and that they remove the keys after turning the engine off to prevent any potential movement, or even another driver moving the vehicle without warning.
Contact us if you require assistance.
