What is Road Haulage?

From receiving deliveries to transporting motors, many industries use road haulage as part of their daily operations. Whatever items are being transferred, it’s important for employers to keep on top of hazards relating to their delivery system.

Numerous health and safety laws relate to transportation, particularly within road haulage. Employers who fail compliance could face damaging stock, paying compensation, and even causing serious injuries or fatalities.

In this guide, we’ll look at what road haulage is, what common risks are involved, and how to promote safe working standards for your haulage staff.

What is road haulage?

Road haulage is the transportation of goods usually through large vehicles. Almost all industries use haulage to receive and send goods as part of their regular business operations.

Road haulage companies often use vehicles like vans, trucks, lorries (sometimes even trailers and containers). Haulage operations can present high risks, subjecting them to numerous transport health and safety laws.

Employers have a legal duty to ensure all aspects of their road haulage business show proper compliance. This duty includes entering vehicles correctly, working safely from heights, and ensuring loads are stored properly – all to avoid injury and damages to staff (or others).

What are common accidents related to road haulage?

Accidents during driving can happen at any given time, and it’s not unheard of within the transport industry. Some of the most common accidents related to road haulage include:

• Being crushed when connecting trailers to trucks.
• Being hit by other vehicles (particularly forklift trucks).
• Being crushed by reversing vehicles.
• Falling from trailers when entering or exiting vehicles.
• Injuries from using incorrect manual handling with loads.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) state most deaths related to road transport haulage arise during moving or maintaining loads. Next to this, is being struck by vehicles when in motion (either due to the driver or others on route).

What is the law on road haulage?

Employers have a legal duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all their staff – like drivers and delivery staff. Some of the most important road haulage regulations include:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Any equipment (including road haulage vehicles) must be kept safe and suitable for relevant work activities.
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Drivers must have safe working systems to perform duties. This includes conducting risk assessments, using competent people, and having safety policies in place (like driving under alcohol and drugs influence).
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: Drivers must possess the right training and equipment to perform their duties safely.
• The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998: Drivers must avoid being exposed to dangerous lifting equipment and operations.
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998: All driving equipment must be maintained to both legislative and manufacturing standards.
• The Working from Heights Regulations 2005: Drivers must receive training on working safely in trucks and lorries with high cabins.

What happens if you breach laws on health and safety in road haulage?

Employers could face serious consequences if they fail to comply with laws on health and safety in road haulage.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authoritative bodies have the power to take action against businesses guilty of neglecting their legal duties. Some of the most common breaches raised include transport risks, falls from heights, and poor manual handling.

The HSE has the power to impose prosecutions and impose restrictions or improvement notices. In serious cases, they could sanction business closures and even imprisonment for cases involving permanent injuries and fatalities.

How to promote road haulage health and safety in your workplace

Transport services present all kinds of hazards and risks. Big or small, employers must ensure they implement the right measure to promote safe working standards for their delivery staff.

Let’s take a look at how to promote road haulage health and safety for your workplace:

Reduce the risk from other vehicles

The greatest risk that occurs in road haulage and transport services come from vehicles. That’s why it’s crucial to take practical steps to reduce them from happening on site. Employers should:

• Minimise reversing where possible or assign specific reversing areas. Provide reversing alarms, trained marshals, and vehicle CCTV where necessary.
• Keep open communication with companies whilst delivering and receiving loads.
• Ensure drivers use truck and trailer parking brakes properly. This includes using handbrakes that have ‘spoken word’ warning devices.
• Keep all pedestrians away from general vehicle routes on site.

Provide training on entering and exiting vehicles

Most trucks and lorries have built-in steps and handrails to help enter and exit vehicles. Drivers should receive proper training on how to get in and out of them safely.

Training on entering vehicles can include using steps or additional items, like mobile ladders, safely. (These are usually wheeled towards the door of the vehicle). Drivers should be familiar with using grab handles and handrails properly.

Drivers should avoid poor etiquettes, like jumping or climbing in and out of vehicles. They should also wear suitable driving PPE, like hi-vis jackets, gloves, and slip-resistant shoes.

Ensure loads are positioned well and secure

When it comes to haulage, workers can face all kinds of loads – in all shapes and sizes. They must have proper training on how to onload and offload them safely – without causing bodily injuries or damage to property.

Staff should also know how to position loads into vehicles safely, to avoid movement during transition. This includes planning ahead in case their loads become loose, as well as minimising risks to drivers on route.

You should encourage road haulage workers to report any issues relating to equipment or incidents during shifts. If loads are damaged or relocated during transition, it should be reported appropriately.

Conduct haulage risk assessments

All haulage operations must go through appropriate risk assessments before taking place. Only competent people can conduct risk assessments, as they’ll possess relevant knowledge, training, and qualifications on road haulage. The main areas they cover include:

• Edge protection: For example, checking whether handrails on upper decks are fitted properly.
• Lower deck: For example, establishing if there’s enough space to perform regular maintenance jobs.
• Slips and trips: For example, ensuring good housekeeping in vehicles and work sites.
• Ladders: For example, using steps and ladders that pass safety inspections and only in the right activities.
• Lighting: For example, having adequate lighting within onloading and offloading work sites.
• Weather: For example, maintaining safe practices when driving in poor weather. (This includes on route, as well as within driving cabins).

Get expert advice on road haulage with Peninsula UK

Road haulage workers can face all kinds of safety risks on route or in warehouses. It falls to employers to ensure all staff work within secure practices, on the road and off.

Peninsula offers expert advice on road haulage. We offer 24-hour H&S advice – ensuring your workers manage haulage tasks in safe and lawful conditions.

Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with one of our Health and Safety consultants today.