Don't lose your head on headboards
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Irefer to the recent article regarding headboards on semi-trailers and I find it most disturbing that neither United Road Transport Union nor the Freight Transport Association acknowledges the Code of Practice (COP) Safety of Loads on Vehicles, first published in 1972 with a second edition in 1984. This is a Department of
Transport publication.
The COP clearly defines the strength and necessary dimensions. And, in paragraph 4.12, addresses the issue of the carriage of metal bars and so on; "When loads such as metal bars, beams, girders, sheet metal, etc are liable to penetrate the cab in the event of failure of the securing devices the headboard must be adequately reinforced to resist damage from individual elements of
the load." It occurs to me that the driver has a good case against his employer in that they have not provided a safe place of work, nor provided suitable equipment for the job in accordance with the COP.
I have observed recently that certain steel hauliers have been loading trailers over the front of the trailer, no headboard fitted, on 3+2 combinations.
As a cynical engineer having also observed that the trailers being used are old stock 12.2in models, with short king-pin positions, it is necessary to load "forward" to achieve correct axle weights at maximum permitted gross weight.
In the interest of road users this practice must be stopped. In the interests of road safety it must be stopped. In the interests of fair competition it must be stopped.
Maybe the FTA would like to expand on their contention of loads being more securely fixed. In a practical way, of course!
David Rimmer,
Preesall, Blackpool.