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Security of loads should not rely on friction alone
Coastal Container Line Limited has been fined £150k and ordered to pay costs of over £26k at Liverpool Crown Court following an incident in September 2006 at Seaforth docks when 37-year-old Lawrence Allen was driving an HGV with approximately 25 tonnes of sheet steel loaded on the trailer.
The steel was being moved only a short distance (1.5 miles) but as the vehicle slowed at a roundabout the load shifted and the steel slid forwards and through the rear of cab. Mr Allen was pinned between his seat and the steering wheel causing crush injuries. He died at the scene.
Kevin Jones, the HSE inspector who investigated the accident, said: ” A key factor was the practice not to secure the steel but to rely upon the weight of the steel and friction to hold the load in place while the vehicle was moving. Employers must ensure that there is suitable and sufficient planning for transport operations, and make sure that loads are adequately restrained. Friction alone should never be relied upon to secure a load.”
Comment: The HSE website contains useful information on load security including the Department for Transport Code of Practice: Safety of Loads on Vehicles