Concerned about the rising number of accidents caused due to unsafe loading of commercial vehicles, the HSE and VOSA (Vehicle Operator Services Agency) recently conducted surprise inspection on vehicles as part of a three-day drive.

Forty vehicles were inspected during the drive, which took place in Wrexham, Birmingham, and Humberside. However, the results were not very encouraging as it was found that over 75 percent of the vehicles stopped had resorted to unsafe loading practices. Most of these problems were significant enough and needed on the spot corrective action, but in a large number of cases, the drivers themselves were able to take this action quickly.

In the last three years 14 people have died and over 2000 have suffered injuries due to unsafe loading of vehicles, and the HSE is understandably worried about the situation.

Commenting on the results of the inspection Head of Injury Reduction at HSE, Marcia Davies, said that most of the loading-unloading injuries take place because the cargo is not held properly. Unrestrained cargo also means that there is a much greater risk of it falling over during unloading. She announced that the HSE would soon be launching a campaign to educate loaders and unloaders about safe practices to avoid accidents.

Jo Tanner, of the Freight Transport Association (FTA), said that the FTA was committed to supporting HSE and VOSA to save people from these totally preventable mishaps. He added that vehicles that are not loaded properly pose a serious danger during loading, transit, and unloading, and it was clear that safer practices were needed to avert accidents.

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