Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
LancBob  
#1 Posted : 11 October 2019 12:31:59(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
LancBob

Hi,

Just found out staff occassionally have to use an estate car to carry hand tools such as spades, pick axes, etc, this involves dropping the back seats to place everything in. The usual default for transporting the tools is a mitsubishi truck with separate cab & body.

Clearly there is the risk of in the event of an accident or under heavy braking for the tools to move and potentially hit the driver or passenger.

Does anyone know of any legislation regarding transporting hand tools in estate cars with the back seats down? A member of staff is telling me there is, though can't remember what - don't think they are being difficult!

Personally think HASWA sec 2 covers this.

Thanks

Acorns  
#2 Posted : 11 October 2019 13:28:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Acorns

You could look at this a having the potential of dangerous condition s100 Con & Use Regs. Namely that the contents may / did cause danger to the occupants. If the could be kept in the load space with the back seats up, then the p red o ken is reduced. Why do they have to drop the back seat? Are they long handled shovels or just a lot of them? But the post reads as if you have identified the practise as being inappropriate and there is a relatively easy solution to remove the issue - namely only use company vehicles suited to carry the tools etc and not a second or third rate option of an estate car that happens to be available at the time.
thanks 2 users thanked Acorns for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 11/10/2019(UTC), Dave5705 on 11/10/2019(UTC)
LancBob  
#3 Posted : 11 October 2019 14:03:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
LancBob

Thanks for the reply  - learnt about some new legislation today!

The items are long handled and there is a fair amount of kit (archaeological equipment) which does mean the seats have to be dropped. We could secure the items but I am not use the car has enough or for that matter suitable strapping points.

At least I can go back to management with a little more evidence and support for additional more suitable vehicles.

Martin Gray  
#4 Posted : 11 October 2019 14:46:43(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Martin Gray

LancBob, there will be at least 4 anchor points in the rear of the vehicle therefore you should consider using a cargo net over the tools. 

The reason for this is as an example a 1kg weight at 30mph has the forward velocity of approximately 1 tonne the rear seat will not prevent a death or a seroius injury.

thanks 1 user thanked Martin Gray for this useful post.
LancBob on 11/10/2019(UTC)
A Kurdziel  
#5 Posted : 11 October 2019 15:10:13(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

A new Reg, brilliant-

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Regulation 100(2)

Maintenance and use of vehicle so as not to be a danger, etc

(2) The load carried by a motor vehicle or trailer shall at all times be so secured, if necessary by physical restraint other than its own weight, and be in such a position, that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused to any person or property by reason of the load or any part thereof falling or being blown from the vehicle or by reason of any other movement of the load or any part thereof in relation to the vehicle. 

Nice Friday factoid

Am I sad or what?

thanks 1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
Dave5705 on 11/10/2019(UTC)
Acorns  
#6 Posted : 12 October 2019 12:01:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Acorns

Originally Posted by: Martin Gray Go to Quoted Post
The reason for this is as an example a 1kg weight at 30mph has the forward velocity of approximately 1 tonne the rear seat will not prevent a death or a seroius injury.
It would be handy and remove confusion on this about the 1tonne. It’s not 1tonne velocity, it wouldn’t be 1 tonne momentum ( using my perhaps basic sums so a little confused as to what the 1 tonne relates to. It’s potentially scary approach, if we followed this logic, a 5 litre /@5kg tin of paint would need a 5tonne ratchet strap to hold it in place.
Users browsing this topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.