LTB 140/23 - Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY23 012 - HGV Driving Safety - Loading Bay 'Red Light' Drive Off

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-140-23-roya ... drive-off/

LTB 140/23 - Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY23 012 - HGV Driving Safety - Loading Bay 'Red Light' Drive Off
No. 140/2023

2 June 2023

Our Ref: V4/23

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY23 012 – HGV Driving Safety – Loading Bay ‘Red Light’ Drive Off:

Introduction, Background and Description:

Royal Mail Group’s Safety Team have issued RMG SHE Safety Flash FY23 012 following a number of vehicle ‘drive-offs’ being reported in various locations. Amongst them, another incident occurred in which a Royal Mail HGV driver failed to follow the Safe System of Work and Operating Instructions. The driver arrived at Southampton Mail Centre to collect a load of York Containers. On arrival he entered the building with the Motive Unit vehicle keys. The keys were not hung on the loading dock/bay door as the key hook had been broken off and not replaced. Instead the driver retained the keys and went off on a break. When the driver returned to the vehicle he entered the cab, started the engine and drove off from a loading dock without checking that trailer loading had been completed and that the trailer doors were closed. The driver additionally drove off the loading dock whilst the ‘Red Light’ was still showing. Additionally, the hook within the trailer, used to hang loose straps on was broken and a loose strap from within the trailer was left outside of the trailer attached to a full York Container by the side of the loading dock door. When the vehicle and trailer drove off, the York was dragged forward, tipping over and crashing to the floor.

The Health and Safety Executive report that every year, there are over 5000 accidents involving transport in the workplace/yards. About 50 of these result in people being killed. The two main causes of injury are people falling off vehicles, or being struck or crushed by moving vehicles or loads.

Impact/Injuries:

By good fortune alone, this incident ended as a ‘near-miss’ and there were no injuries to employees. Had there been staff on the dock and in the trailer at the time, a serious injury could have resulted. A ‘near-miss’ was recorded.

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