Rank: Forum user 
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Our operators load items above head height on the back of a trailer to get the maximum amount of products on to the wagon. They use a set of 3 step stepladders to reach the highest parts of the vehicle.
They climb the steps with the product in one hand and hold the steps in with the other.I cant figure out any other way to load the vehicles’ safley.I am aware that it isn’t the safety way to load. Does anyone have any experience of manual handling whilst standing on a step ladder or similar issues and how did you overcome it?I have considered using a Hop-Step used in the building trade,but the loaders don’t think this will work.
Any help or ideas will be greatly appreciated.
regards
Warren Edited by user 04 July 2017 19:04:56(UTC)
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Rank: Forum user
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tail-lift on the back of the trailer, to lift person and materials on trolley onto the back of the vehicle racking inside the vehicle for materials, or cages which are secured in place, and have a locking mechanism for the items within them. look at vehicles for companies that are in the same sector as you and you will see what options their teams have gone for.
what does your risk assessment of the situation show or what are you trying to solve? there are resources available from trade associations, (RHA/FTA) and their specific groups, such as building materials, parcel delivery, laundry, gas bottle distribution, waste etc. perhaps they have an answer for you, or a starting point. we had a step ladder in the offices - bt originally which had castors/rings and a hand rail on sides so could manoever to where you wanted and then when stood on was stationary, with handrail on right, slightly lower on left, don't know if it would be suitable, but perhaps not really the primary problem to solve, shouldn't need to be accessing at height - should be able to do from floor level, and if in the back of a vehicle, the stuff wants to stay where it's supposed to whilst you are driving around so consideration for security should have been done too. without further information it appears difficult to say, but you may also want to look at some of the balfour beatty flatbeds/transits and their access systems to ensure people don't have un-needed risks, possibly thompson bodies for their 7.5 tonne tippers have an access system, or a plant delivery body manufacturer.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Stuart, Thanks for the replay; I need to say that there isn’t any money available for this project. I removed the last set of step because the locking catch was missing. If I buy new ones then I am more or less saying that what the loaders are doing is safe, which clearly isn’t the case. Nevertheless, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place on this. At the end of the day, the work needs to get loaded and without the steps, there is no way to load the top of the vehicle. How can i justify using the steps on the risk assessment?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The risk assessment process is to establish whether the activity is being done safely and what (if anything) needs to be done to make it safer. Using a risk assessment to justify an unsafe method is [insert whatever word fits]. Whilst you obviously need to be aware of operational and financial constraints, there is no excuse for condoning unsafe work. That road leads to people being harmed. Sometimes safety professionjals need to be strong in their position. Finding a solution must be the employers duty along with advice and assistance from the safety professional.
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Rank: Forum user
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what are you carrying on the vehicle? what is the way in which you are delivering it? how do others do it? if at present you aren't happy with the arrangements, then you either need to change them or adapt to stop using the upper levels that you aren't happy with the access arrangements for.
after an issue, hse, dvsa, tc etc will look at what you have decided and go "but for a bit of thought" the person broke his arm/leg/etc and it's not worth putting yourself at that risk with them.
so think about it properly and come up with something that you are happy with. have you got photos of inside you can upload to somewhere so that people can see what you are talking about? - dropbox link or similar?
perhaps a mini-access tower inside vehicle or ladder/step up/platform combo that works together to make a step at a certain height, secured to the inside of the vehicle with scaffolding clamps, and something on the floor, with a hand-rail to prevent falling off?
google provided: http://www.workingatheightltd.com/access_towers_and_steps/deskglider/deskglider.php
mobile steps similar to ones we had in office: https://www.equip4work.co.uk/access-equipment/mobile-steps/weight-reactive-steps/steptek-classic-plus-mobile-steps-colour-range.html?utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=XMLbase_feed&utm_term=Weight+Reactive+Steps&utm_campaign=Steptek_Classic_Plus_Mobile_Warehouse_Steps_Colour_Range&gclid=Cj0KEQjwnPLKBRC-j7nt1b7OlZwBEiQAv8lMLALvAQKdr0I4-7pKeUeVe44t133-pWyuosx0pdQig_EaAhie8P8HAQ
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Rank: New forum user
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What exactly is being loaded onto the trailer? Would it be possible for it to be palletised and lifted on with a forklift?
Not only is there a work at height risk here but there's also a manual handling risk - both of which need to be looked at.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Reading between the lines, these individual items must be lightweight. Would it be possible to wrap or bale these individual items into larger bundles, thus precluding the need to reach so high and considerably reducing the repetition, whilst still keeping pack weights within tolerable limits?
Your current method is surely creating a risk at the other end of the journey.
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Rank: Forum user 
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Manual Handling will tell you to avoid manual handling in the first instance, especially over head. Also doesnt it warrant making it company policy that no items are to stacked above head height also?? Im thinking of prevention here, what do your trends tell you, if accidents are frequent then action needs to be taken by the company!!!
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