HSE offers sheeting advice
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• The Health and Safety Executive this week issued its first guidance on sheeting and unsheeting tipper lorries in an attempt to reduce risks to drivers.
The publication of the booklet follows fears in the HSE of serious under-reporting of injuries occurring when drivers are sheeting. Injuries often include broken bones and sometimes lead to death.
Companies should use the new guidance for ful filling their legal obligation to provide safe working practices, says the HSE. The booklet contains information on duties under the law, risk assessment procedures and explanations of sheeting systems.
Roy Lurvey, the HSE's chief inspector of quarries says: "Slips and trips can occur when climbing on, off and along loads, falls happen when drivers are spreading or folding sheets and drivers can fall over the tail end of lorries when pulling sheets tight. These falls can sometimes be from heights of as much as 16 feet and can prove to be fatal." E Sheeting and unsheeting of tipper lorries: guidance for the road haulage industries, costs £7.50. Contact 01787 881165.