Eliments 5 Safety Transport

Element -5 Safety Transporty

The movement of vehicles hazards and control.

This element focus on traffic and transport in and around the work place, the hazard what present and ways to reduce the risk of injury to people.

On completing  this element you should be able to :

Identify the hazards presented by the movement of vehicles in the workplace and the appropriate control measures

Vehicles at work continue to be a major cause of fatal and major injuries

Every year there are over 5000 accidents involving transport in the workplace about 50 of these are result in the people being killed.

Estimates suggest that up to one third of all road traffic accidents involve some one who Is at work at the time.

To manage the risk from work place transport effectively we need to consider three keys areas.

1.      Safe Site

2.      Safe vehicle

3.      Safe driver

Safe Site

Drawing a site plan or sketch will be helpful showing parking, location of reception or other keys areas, route to take through the site and location of loading and unloading areas traffic routes should be well planned. (One way system, speed limit etc)

Safe site Precautions:

v  Proper safety signs displayed.

v  Reversing should be avoided where ever possible

v  Extra care should be taken at vehicles crossing points

v  Ensure visitor to the site are aware of the rules.

v  Workplace traffic routes must be suitable for the people and vehicles using them.

v  Where vehicles and pedestrians share traffic routs there must be enough separation between them.

v  Make sure that all vehicles movement are properly risk assessed and managed.

General safety measures on worksites

1.      Driving surface

2.      Vehicles and load

3.      Vehicle handling

4.      Speed

5.      Traffic management

6.      Separation pedestrians and vehicles

7.      Signs , signal road making

8.      Lighting

9.      Parking

10.  Loading areas

11.  Temporary workplace and unprepared road ways

12.  Site based way to stop vehicle from moving

Other Safety measures

a)      Traffic routes

b)     Control measures for pedestrian

c)      General maintenance

Traffic Routes

Every traffic routes in a work place must have a driving surface that is suitable for its purpose.

Hazards

a)      Bend

b)     Junctions

c)      Gate or barriers

d)     Overhead electricity cables

e)      Anything that might collapse or be left in a dangerous condition if vehicle hit it.

f)       Any unprotected edge from which vehicles could fall or where they could become unstable, such as unfenced edge or elevated weigh bridges.

Safety Measures:

a)      Minimize road and route junction.

b)     Provide clear signed warning of all hazard

c)      Protect dangerous obstruction with bars, height gauge post or barriers

d)     If gates or barricades are stay open, secure them in secure position.

Control Measures of Pedestrians

Safety Measures:

1.      Risk assessment

2.      Slip resistance surface

3.      Spillage control

4.      Selected walkways

5.      Fencing and guarding

6.      Use of safety signs

7.      Use of ppe

8.      Information instruction training supervision.

9.      Maintenance of safe work place

10.  Access and egress

11.  Environmental consideration (Heat , lighting, etc)

General maintenance

Lighting, mirror, signs, and yard cleaning.

ü  Have a system of carrying out routine checks of lights and mirrors regularly replace broken bulb promptly

ü  Make sure that the surface of lights, bulbs or mirror are clean and clear of mud

ü  Make sure that signs can be fully seen, that they are stuck and have not been hidden by trees or greenery.

ü  Yard cleaning should be carried out at times when loading are not in operation.

Safe Vehicles

Employer and duty holder must make sure that

1.      Vehicle use in the workplace are safe

2.      Driven safely

3.      Regularly maintained, repaired and inspected

4.      Vehicles is suitable for its purpose

5.      Take account of the working conditions and

6.      Access the risk to health and safety of using chosen work equipment.

The main hazard of Vehicles:

1.      Loss of control or over turning of vehicles

2.      We and uneven ground

3.      Excessive or sudden slopes

4.      Excessive speeds

5.      Incorrect tire pressure

6.      Sudden change in direction

7.      Wrong carried or un secured loads and attachments

Specification for a work place vehicle should include answers to the questions.

·         Does the driver have good all round visibility?

·         What warning system such as horn and light are fitted?

·         Are seat belts and chains safe and comfortable and do they meet the need of the job

·         What protection is there from bad weather, extreme of temperature, dirt, dust and fumes?

·         Is there a ways to prevent injuries if the vehicle overturns?

·         Is there a way to prevent the vehicle from moving? For ex: by applying breaks, and removing the keys.

·         Is the vehicle bright enough to seen?

·         Do the vehicle lights provide enough light for driver to work?

Safe Drivers

Employer should make sure that people working with vehicle are awae of danger and safety precautions and good practices

1.      No one should ever try  to climb onto moving vehicles

2.      Passenger should not only be allowed on a vehicle if it is designed to accommodate them safely, with suitable seating.

3.      Climbing on to the vehicles or other structure should always use the 3 point hold rule.

Neatness:

An obstacle in the vehicle or in another place is very common cause of falls and fell loads can also be dangerous. Vehicle should be kept as clean and neat as possible and especially free from greases or oil walking or other support surface, such as any platform area behind the vehicle.

Access:

People should never use parts of the vehicle. Not designed as hand or foot holds such as mudguards, bumpers, tracks, hooks to gain access to any part of a vehicle.

     Parts of the vehicles not designed to support weight may give way and there surface are likely to be unsuitable.

When getting down from the vehicle people should use the steps or ladder provided

Worker should not jump down as this can cause slips and fall or can lead to injuries like broken ankle, or long term knee complaints.

General hazards to driver:

1.      Fumes

2.      Fire or explosion

3.      Collusion

4.      Manual handling

5.      Falling objects

6.      Noise or vibration

7.      Ergonomics.