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THE SAFE WAY TO GET HITCHED
COUPLE UP WITH JOANNA
FACTOTUM AND AVOID ACCIDENTS WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE
With an estimated one million couplings and uncouplings between tractor
and trailer a day throughout the UK road transport industry, the chances
of things going wrong, are high.
Accidents
in this potentially hazardous situation could mean serious injury or
loss of life and costs which could put well-intentioned and normally
safe operators out of business.
"Increasing
awareness of the potential dangers and observing documented procedures
for safe coupling and uncoupling will lower the risk of an accident,”
says Ruth Waring of specialist transport consultants, Joanna Factotom.
"Although
the actual number of reported accidents and the incidence of injury
or fatality seems relatively low – there were 24 between 1986
and 1996 - many drivers will admit to having had at least one near-miss
while coupling or uncoupling,” says Ruth.
The
Health and Safety Executive has published guidelines for the coupling
and uncoupling of large goods vehicles, reporting that most accidents
occurred when LGV’s moved when the trailer air lines were coupled
and when the semi-trailer parking brake had not been applied when it
was parked.
In
addition to these valuable guidelines Ruth recommends a number of further
measures which could help prevent an accident.
"Drivers
need to be in the habit of re-checking the tractor/trailer combination
particularly if someone else coupled up or if the driver has left the
vehicle to take a break. The HSE says that even the most experienced
drivers have been involved in coupling accidents, so complacency needs
to be guarded against. Drivers should not assume that the coupling has
been safely made.”
Ruth
said that a number of new audible alarms now on the market could also
help provide a timely warning in the event of an unsafe coupling or
uncoupling.
"The
best route to safety, however, is prevention and that is achieved through
regular risk assessment and ongoing training on a broad range of safety-critical
areas within a transport operation.
"Considering
the vast number of shipping movements handled each day throughout the
country, UK road hauliers have a good record of safety but there are
many ways of further reducing the risk of accidents and encouraging
safety awareness within the industry.”
Ruth
said that the Road Hauliers Association and the Freight Transport Association
offered useful programmes which addressed a range of safety issues and
Joanna Factotum could help companies identify and implement procedures
which were relevant to their needs.
The
HSE leaflet on coupling and uncoupling LGV’s can be viewed online
at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg312.pdf.
Ends
Words : 408
Enquiries
: Wayne Asher – 01926-748004
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