Page 24 - BOSS Today Issue 41

BOSS Today #41 DOWN TO BUSINESS – HR

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Recent analysis of fatal accident statistics showed that reversing activities were
involved in 11% of all fatal workplace transport accidents. Most of these incidents can be
avoided by taking some simple safety precautions.

he main problem with reversing is of Workplace Transport Management mirrors should be installed to assist
Tpoor visibility. Awareness of people Safety. visibility. Access to such areas should
or objects can be hindered by the size be restricted.
of the vehicle, by equipment positioned Risk Assessing The Activities n Reversing alarms should be fitted
on the vehicle, by lack of functioning If possible, the need to reverse vehicles on and regularly maintained. The alarm
equipment on the vehicle (such as badly- site should be eliminated altogether. This itself should be sufficiently loud and
positioned mirrors or non-functioning can be achieved by the creation of a one- distinct that it does not become
CCTV cameras), or even by other working way system within the site or by reducing part of the background noise. If
vehicles in the vicinity. the number of locations where a vehicle this is not possible, use warning
In addition, environmental noise or the may be required to reverse. lights instead.
sound of the vehicle when it is reversing Where the need for reversing cannot n Sensors or ‘trip’ systems can
can distract a driver, and poorly laid out be avoided, consider the following be fitted to vehicles. These
sites or adverse weather conditions can precautionary controls: devices either warn the driver
hinder the driver’s visibility. The cause n Reversing areas should be carefully or stop the vehicle when
of reversing accidents can usually be planned out, clearly marked and of an obstruction is detected
attributed to a failure to manage the a sufficient size to allow the driver close to it.
workplace, the vehicle or the driver, or to have clear visibility. If the area is n Stops such as barriers
a combination of these three aspects small and this cannot be altered, fixed and buffers can be used.

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