Posted By Hugh McKnight Our utility maintenance crews work from vans which regularly tow trailers. The original van steps had a very small footprint, which wasn’t easy to use with big/muddy feet (several accidents resulted from slipping & falling). A replacement step is currently being trialed. This runs almost the full width of the van, with a cutout in the middle to accommodate the trailer hitch. Although (hopefully) this is a considerable improvement there are still issues (the step needs to be folded up during driving or it gets damaged by the trailer), and a badly sprained ankle (reportable) has just resulted from someone stepping on the tow hitch. An integrated step & tow ball assembly used by another major utility company wouldn’t be suitable, as our vans are larger and chassis damage can apparently result from towing heavier trailers (e.g. mini diggers). I’d appreciate any suggestions regarding alternative steps?

Posted By Ron Hunter What about a nice set of robust fold down steps which are accessible immediately on opening the doors? OK they'll impinge on the available load space, but you'll have no worries with fouling the trailer,& the steps can be robust as opposed to a flimsier external fold-down option.

Posted By Ron Hunter Ah...silly me. I has assumed that the trailer would be unhitched before your people would be required to load or unload heavy or awkward items from the rear of the van. So long as you require your employees to clamber over, around or about the A- frame of the trailer, then they will be at risk of injury. Can't see how that can be justified in terms of risk assessment. Perhaps a more adventurous approach would be to have an adaptation to fit between the trailer and the van (some sort of ramp affair) to allow small plant etc to be rolled or carried out via the trailer? (Of course, the trailer then has to be empty!). Failing that, perhaps you should look ot side loading doors when renewing the vehicles!