According to HSE figures for 2023 to 2024, 25 workers were killed when struck by a moving vehicle.
These included a £1.28m fine that was issued to food manufacturing company Ginsters in respect of an incident involving a moving vehicle after an employee was killed by a lorry that was delivering supplies to the bakery where it makes its pasties.
Paul Clarke was fatally crushed and killed on 2 December 2021 after being struck by the vehicle as it reversed into a loading bay at The Cornwall Bakery, Callington, operated by Samworth Brothers.
The 40-year-old, who worked as an intake operator at the bakery, had been moving strip curtains in the loading bay before being struck by the lorry.
An HSE investigation found Samworth Brothers had not assessed the risks associated with the temporarily installed strip curtains and that there was no safe system of work to move them out of the way when the lorries reversed into the loading bay. The strip curtains had been installed in place of a faulty roller door.
Operators can help prevent accidents by assessing and managing vehicle and driver safety. The HSE has published helpful guidance – go to www.tinyurl.com/3n67yz9e to read more on risk assessments.
The HSE also has a range of guidance available to operators on their website www.tinyurl.com/kuwjuhse. These cover vehicle safety; site safety; and lift trucks.
To read the report, visit www.tinyurl.com/43pajrcy. Backhouse Jones has a specialist team which can help with accidents at work: visit www.tinyurl.com/3x4h33kb for more.
Keeping vehicles roadworthy
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness is a non-exhaustive document that helps explain how to keep vehicles roadworthy.
The guide is intended for use by operators, drivers, and others responsible for maintaining commercial and passenger vehicles.
As Backhouse Jones mentioned in its ‘Back on Air’ webinar on 1 November 2024, it has been expecting the Guide to be updated and this was released on 5 November 2024.
The key areas of change include safety inspections and repair facilities, and braking performance assessment.
To take the hassle out of operators working out what has changed, and to encourage thought provoking debate around the important issue of maintenance, Backhouse Jones recorded a short podcast: go to www.tinyurl.com/st72jms6 or wherever you get your podcasts
HGV drivers and loads targeted
Drivers and freight operators have long been blighted by freight crime. However, a growing trend is being reported whereby organised crime groups are targeting lorries for their valuable loads.
These gangs exploit vulnerabilities at rest stops, focusing on high-value goods such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and alcohol.
A recent report by the APPG on Freight and Logistics, which was co-written by the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA), outlines the scale of the problem and makes recommendations to combat freight crime.
The report found that last year there were 5,370 reported incidents of HGV and cargo crime in the UK (with actual figures likely much higher) – a 5% increase on the previous year.
Freight crime offences in 2023 were responsible for the direct loss of £68.3m in stolen goods. This figure only represents the wholesale value of these goods, with NaVCIS estimating the true value being between £680m-£700m.
To view the report, visit www.tinyurl.com/2s3su3b9 and listen to what the issues are and what the report details in the Backhouse Jones ‘Back Your People’ podcast at www.tinyurl.com/59rjnc5e.
This page is brought to you by Backhouse Jones Solicitors, which runs a frequent series of podcasts – see www.tinyurl.com/2xbv3jzv
