Occasionally HGV delivery vehicles attend site with both curtains and retaining side boarding (like scaffold boards) along its length.

I have noted that the driver removes the higher boards by using one board to lift the upper one from its slot, lower it on to the one below then remove it by hand (I hope I have expained this correctly)

Because of the risk of a board falling from above head height, it seems reasonable that it should be a hard hat activity.

Has anyone had experience of this?

Regards

This type of vehicle is common in Europe where there is no requirement on the driver to have head protection (many drivers don't even bother with foot protection - we regularly have flip flops!).

You could make them wear a hard hat at your site but if the board hits the driver they will still be getting an injury / concussion. The manufacturer does actually provide a U-clip lance to do this so the boards are less liable to rotate but it is one of the first items lost. This lance in effect (just like the board being used) becomes a form of "push-off" so in the event control is lost on the board being moved the driver is forced away so as not to be directly under the falling timber.

We find it much better they adopt the described method rather than clambering on to the deck to remove the boards from within the vehicle and the potential to fall from height - the alternative being a dedicated bay at trailer bed height that driver walks round.

I would be more concerned about the curtain clips springing off when released or swinging about as the curtain is moved / wind blown.