The way you move

Often sites can be tight, have other contractors present and public access can be difficult to control in the forest. This means that our controls for vehicle and plant movements must be well planned and implemented.

What is appropriate will be very site specific, but some controls will be common across all sites, e.g., properly maintained plant and vehicles, trained and competent operators, segregating pedestrians from plant and vehicles, agreed parking areas and clear traffic routes etc. Where tipping takes place a designated tipping area should be established on firm, level and even ground to minimise the risk of overturn during tipping. Pedestrians must be excluded from the area during tipping.

Even with all the controls implemented it is essential that drivers and operators keep focussed and observant of their surroundings as the last line of protection against unexpected events. Two incidents occurred recently incurring damage. A van rolled away from where it had been parked and struck a bollard and a loading shovel struck a parked van. No one was injured in these incidents, but the potential for injury in both is clear. If a vehicle or plant strikes a pedestrian, there will only be one winner.

Learning Points:

• Ensure plant and vehicle movements on site are risk assessed and controls are planned, implemented, and monitored.
• Take corrective action where controls are not being implemented or are not working or adequate.
• Drivers and operators must remain alert to others in the area, including members of public. Expect the unexpected.
• Pedestrians must keep to pedestrian routes and out of non-pedestrian areas.
• Traffic routes must be kept clear.