Rank: New forum user 
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I'm after some advice. I currently work for a logistics company who transport certain items from the UK to Europe. I accompanied a driver on one of the trips to update a Risk Assessment and was appalled at how I saw the driver carry out sheeting. It basically involved a driver balancing on top of his load rolling out the tarp. I measured the height and the drivers feet were five meters from the ground level. When I raised these concerns in writing the response was its not on our site and we wouldn't be liable if there was an accident, which I disagree with. Has anybody had any similar issues or accidents in Europe and what was the outcome.
Cheers in advance.
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Rank: Forum user
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Used to work in quarrying industry where we had haulage vehicles on site every day to collect loads, none of whom were employed by our organisation. We provided designated areas for the drivers to carry out sheeting operations which were, wherever possible, a siding from main traffic routes. At each of these areas we provide a suitable access platform which was guarded etc to allow the driver to view the top of the lorry if need be. In later years we moved to a policy whereby all lorries entering the site had to be fitted with either a manual or electronically operated sheeting mechanism which meant sheeting operations could be carried out from ground level thus eliminating the need to work at height at all. If you do a quick search for HGV easy sheeting on the internet you should find lots of option. Since the control in the Working at Height Regs is to eliminate where possible I think this should be your first port of call rather than focusing on the sites where your drivers visit and you have no control.
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Rank: Forum user
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Rank: New forum user
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Cheers for the replies folks. I'm more concerned about a UK worker being injured in another European country. I can't seem to find who would be liable and most answers tend to be vague and dance around the issue.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I work regularily across Europe/Mid East and Africa...The problem you will come across is that most not only have country level legislation there are also regional/distric variations...and although it is pretty much illegal in the UK some countries allow the disclaimers in the contracts and even penalties for contractors who have accidents. If you want to PM me some more specifics I can maybe point you in a better direction... :)
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi jgeorg25, if the driver fell (from his loaded trailer when trimming before sheeting), the company would be liable. The site would also be liable if it happened on their site (as indicated). There is safe systems of work available, e.g. sheeting from ground level - level loads required, sheeting from the trailers gantry, sheeting from an independent (stand alone) gantry system - with hand rails etc., use of a "bi-line" system (where the driver clips onto two wire lines and walks down the middle of the load (to trim before sheeting from ground level, see above, preferred option). Another option is to clip onto an overhead gantry (if the site has such a facility, not sure). Regards.
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Rank: Forum user 
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We carry out work in Holland for the natiional rail network and we always have to provide our SSoW to them for approval. (I know this is a bit diferent to your scenario) but the point is , work in Europe, work on clients equipment and sites and still have to provide a SSoW.
Regardless of legal liability, this comes down to moral responsibility. To provide our workers with a SSoW. Your company has the same repsonsibility.
My advice would be to ask an employment lawyer to clarify the legeal ramifications but I would suggest that whatever site your drivers are on, they will have their own laws and regs. to comply with.
We get HGV deliveries and collections to and from our site and we don't allow unsafe working from foreign drivers.
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Rank: Super forum user
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jgeorg25
It is totally depend on your contract (what is your extend of control over the driver?) consider in other scenario your driver go to another country and make over speeding and causing an incident ..Who is liable then?
SHV
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