Hi JWG, I work for a company that runs a fleet of delivery vehicles and specialist access vehicles with open bodys that need to be accessed by the operators/drivers. We have in the past had several incidents of people falling off the back of these vehicles and we are in the process of converting them to have fall protection in the form of straps down the sides. We have gone down this route because they are lighter and easily removable if needed. If you get in contact with Spanset in Middlewich they have been very helpful to us in designing and supplying suitable systems.

Steve, Your information appears to relate to guardrails and the inclination of the roof. We run a fleet of flat bed lorries and falls from lorry beds is a concern, we have yet to source a suitable means of preventing falls, fortunately we have not had many falls or serious injuries. We work hard at minimising the need for drivers to have to access the lorry bed. Carlt, How do the straps you suggest actually work and would they prevent a 16 stone (102 Kg) man falling off the back of a flat bed? Geoff

Many thanks for your comments. As starting point we may trail ratchet straps - they appear to be fairly ridged once tightened. Thanks again.