Posted By Owen Needles We have improved our Workplace transport system at work recently to make it safer. However a recent inspection / site survey from our insurance company has recommended that we look into holding onto delivery or collection vehicles key's until the stores team loading / unloading have finished. This is because of incidents at other companies in the past when the lorry driver thinks they have finished and has simply started up his vehicle and tried to drive off. There has been several incidients where people have been killed due to fork lift truck still reaching into the lorry etc. Has anyone tried this method, does it work in practise? Any guidance or experience in this area will be gladly recieved.

Posted By Paul Duell At my last workplace we also did a similar thing: On arrival, and before loading/unloading started, the driver handed his keys to the Despatch Supervisor on duty, although he didn't have to lock his cab. He only got the keys back when the supervisor was ready for him to leave. It worked for us, and the drivers quickly got used to the idea and didn't mind much.

Posted By AF I had a similar system at a previous company (vegetable processing plant). Transport Hauliers arrived on site, parked at general area, reported to despatch office, advised which loading bay to park. Driver duly parks at relevant loading bay, reports back to office, keys handed over, key hung up on numbered board corresponding to loading bay, forklift loading authorisation clipboard removed and handed to loader with the loading docket. Loader then sets hydraulic ramps in place, loads Haulier in accordance with loading docket, when finished loading docket signed and returned with clipboard, clipboard returned to board and keys returned to drive along with despatch order note. At a glance, anyone in office recognises - Keys hanging up - no clipboard = loading in process Keys hanging up - clipboard = completed No keys hanging up - clipboard = empty loading bay No keys hanging up - no clipboard = DO NOT USE (system breakdown) You get the picture This stemmed from a well known supermarket depot having a fatality in Scotland when a Haulier pulled out whilst a pallet truck was still loading - driver subsequently fell between haulage wagon and loading bay, suffering serious injuries and died in hospital - back in 2003

Posted By Brenda H I went to a seminar a couple of months ago on vehicle safety and a representative from the HSE was there doing a presentation and they specifically mentioned the business about drivers handing in their keys! It was met with a mixed response, some not minding and thinking it was a good idea. To actualy lorry owner/drivers who said they wouldn't entertain it! Think it can work providing there is a robust system in place and everyone understands why it's being done.

Posted By Owen Needles Many thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.

Posted By AF Chris No problems there with Garry's suggestion at all. Normally artics/hauliers are located externally, once reversed into docking bay, roller doors are more often opened from inside (motors are generally located internally anyway) If motor failure, maintenance/specialists generally access from internal areas. Generally, most transport yards minimise/design out the need for pedestrianised access in the first place (hence why often maintenance operations are conducted internally) Alex