Posted By J Knight Hi Jason, Some guidance from HSE; also points to useful further info elsewhere on HSE's site. As I recall, it doesn't answer your question directly (e.g. no size/weight limits for fitting of audible alarms) but it will guide you in carrying out assessments about reversing, as it will tell you what HSE expect; http://www.hse.gov.uk/wo...ormation/cooperation.htm John

Posted By SIMON HOWES The oracle is INDG199, buckshee at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg199.pdf To the extent that it asks whether vehicles are fitted with 'reversing alarms' I assume they are not mandatory though I must admit I don't know. Answer is to go through the hierarchy of measures suggested in 199 and if that doesn't do enough for the numbers ban vehicles without bleepers from reversing on your site. As a people-friendly PS - if you do get bleeped vehicles in large numbers on a previously quiet site, especially if you have any say in the fitting of bleepers, you should go for context sensitive systems whcih adjust the volume of the bleeping bleepers so that it is, for the sake of argument, always and only 10dB above background. Simon

Posted By Karen Todd Extracts from The Transport Manager's and Operator's Handbook 2004 (David Lowe): "It is in consequence of dangers of reversing that legislation permits the voluntary fitment of reversing bleepers on certain goods and passenger vehicles. With the introduction of these voluntary provisions, there is the risk that any operator deciding not to fit such equipment on a voluntary basis, who then has one of his vehicles involved in a reversing accident, could face proceedings under the Health and Safety at Work Act for not taking sufficient care in safeguarding the health of others. A number of successful prosecutions on this account have been reported and in some cases very heavy fines were imposed". and: "It is legally permissible to fit reversing alarms to certain goods and passenger vehicles if desired - the regulations do not make it mandatory to do so. Such alarms may be voluntarily fitted and used on the following vehicles: - commercial vehicles over two tonnes gross weight - passenger vehicles with nine or more seats - engineering plant - works trucks The alarms are subject to the same night-time restrictions that apply to the sounding of horns in built-up areas (i.e. not after 11.30pm and before 7.00am) and the sound emitted must not be capable of being confused with the pelican crossing 'safe to cross' signal. Such alarms must not be fitted to light goods vehicles below two tonnes gross weight or to motor cars." Regards, Karen