‘Safe coupling and uncoupling’ is intended to help reduce runaway and rollaway incidents, and it aimed at employers, those who control sites where coupling and uncoupling are undertaken by users of large goods vehicles, managers, self-employed drivers and driver training bodies.
FTA (Freight Transport Association) was involved in drafting the guidance, working with HSE (Health & Safety Executive), which chairs the Transportation and Logistics Forum.
In her introduction, traffic commissioner Sarah Bell (pictured) says: “Tragically, each year there are a number of fatalities or serious injuries due to vehicle runaways or trailer rollaways.
“The cause is often because the individual in charge mistakenly believes that all brakes are engaged when they are not. This should not happen if simple procedures are followed.”
“Vehicle and trailer runaway incidents are a serious concern for FTA members,” comments Andy Mair, FTA’s head of engineering.
“This new guidance will be welcomed by members who will be able to put it into practical use for the training of drivers and used as a benchmark for risk assessment of their procedures, site and systems to ensure safe coupling and uncoupling of trucks and trailers.”
The guide includes practical information on how truck and trailer parking brake systems operate and step by step photographic sequences for the coupling and uncoupling procedures which should be adopted by drivers.
The ‘Safe coupling and uncoupling’ guide is available free of charge from the FTA website at www.fta.co.uk/safe-coupling-guide