HSE load safety initiative

The HSE has launched an initiative to tackle the problem of loads being inadequately secured when being transported on vehicles. The campaign aims to reduce the 2100 people who are injured each year due to unsafe loads and to save UK businesses the millions of pounds wasted every year on damaged goods.

As part of the initiative, the HSE has teamed up with the Vehicle Operation Safety Agency (VOSA) to carry out spot checks throughout April to ensure that load safety norms are being adhered to by hauliers and other transporters. The HSE and VOSA officials will target vehicles at random to check if there are proper restraints on the goods being carried. Where they find evidence of unsafe loading they will be able to impose on the spot fines against the driver or business owners or even order the vehicle off the road.

This is part of a yearly push by the HSE to target road hauliers. Last year’s campaign showed that 80% of vehicles which were stopped had unsafe loads.

For more information on the campaign please see the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/loadsafety/index.htm