Risk Assessment for Unloading of vehicles.

Contract
Site:
Number:
Name: Position: Date:
Assessed by:
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Description Of Work: Unloading of vehicles.

Task / Job Component Hazard
Unloading of vehicles.
Manual handling.
Overturn of machine.
Slips, trips and falls.
Contact with moving machines or
pedestrians.
Persons at risk
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Residual
Risk
Risk
Rating Controls / Precautions to Reduce Risk
Rating
L/M/H
L/M/H
 Training in safe manual handling techniques.
 Provide assistance for hand stacking of pallets.
H L
 Arrange with supplier to minimise work on the vehicle
bed.
 Adequate preparation and maintenance of temporary
roads/install sub-base of permanent roads early
including suitable drainage.
 At site entrance give information on hazards such as
steep slopes/overhanging structures and any speed
H L
limits.
 Wearing of seatbelts if fitted (see PUWER).
 Selection of machine suitable for terrain/provision of
safe hard flat road surfaces and dedicated unloading
areas.
 Provide safe access routes.
H  Good housekeeping. L
 Good lighting.
H  Where visibility is restricted, movements to be under the L
control of a qualified Banksman/Slinger.
 Physical separation of traffic from pedestrian routes.
 Wearing of high-visibility clothing.
 Minimise reversing movements avoiding blind
spots/pinch points.
 Provision of a copy of the traffic management plan for
the driver to ensure awareness of the work of the
machine.
 Use flashing beacon and horn.

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 Risk Assessment for Unloading of vehicles.
Falls from vehicles
Fall of material from forks/failure of
lifting equipment.
Collision with plant or vehicles
during mechanical handling.
Collision with overhead structures.
Fire.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
 Ensure that all workers have an agreed system for
attracting the driver’s attention before entering the
danger zone.
 Reversing alarms.
 Display warning signs and liaise with controllers of area
shared with others (e.g. client).
 Provide barriers around doors and gates that open
directly onto roads.
 Refuges and safe systems of work for reversing onto
loading docks or similar.
 Where practical all materials will be offloaded by
mechanical means that do not require operatives to
climb onto the vehicle.
 Where this is not possible, then suitable fall arrest
equipment will be used i.e. harness and inertia
reel attached to hiab, use of air/bean bags around
vehicle.
 Inspection and tests required by LOLER to be carried
out and certificates kept.
 Defects reporting book.
 No lifting over people, drivers of vehicles being
unloaded to stay within strengthened cabs or away from
work area.
H L
 Marking maximum safe working load.
 Provision of suitable lifting equipment.
 Manufacturer’s handbook in cab of machine.
 Secure A frames or other lorry bed accessories to
support glass or items such as trusses.
 Checks on security of load before unloading.
 Flashing beacon.
 Specific site rules to identify where workers are to take
H L
refuge during some mechanical handling operations.
 Use qualified Banksman/Slinger.
 Selection of a suitably sized machine.
H L
 Erect goalposts to identify overhead cables.
H  Site fire safety plan. L
 Provide fire extinguisher in cab and appropriate training.
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 Risk Assessment for Unloading of vehicles.
Falls from vehicles.
Weather.
Explosion during unloading of or in
the presence of flammable liquids
or vapours.
Contact with overhead services.
Unloading in areas in use by the
public.
Unauthorised access.
Maintenance.
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
Machine operators, drivers, other
workers, unauthorised visitors,
general public.
 Switch off engine when refuelling.
 Provide footwear with good grip.
 Install handholds and non-slip materials to all areas of
the machine for which access is required, and clean
regularly.
 Prohibit passengers unless seats are provided.
H L
 Arrangements with suppliers to avoid the need to use
the lorry bed.
 Provide access ladders onto lorries/tankers.
 Provide unsheeting gantries, soft landing bags or
airbags or safety harness running lines.
 Suspend work during conditions causing poor visibility
M L
or loss of steering.
 Safe system of work determined by supplier/owner of
M L
materials.
 Remove/disconnect/move work.
 Carry out physical survey to identify locations of all
H L
overhead lines.
 Provide goal posts and warning signs.
 Signs.
 Flashing beacons.
 Barriers/cones.
 Signallers.
 Planned sequence of unloading.
H  Stop and go boards to control traffic flow. L
 Lifting suspended during all times when people or
vehicles will be under loads.
 Arrangements with the Highways authority.
 Written information for occupants of partially completed
sites.
 Remove keys when driver is not in vehicle and lock up.
H  Parking in compounds with security clamps or L
immobilisers.
 Driver maintenance restricted.
H  All other maintenance including tyre repair only by L
specialist mechanics.
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 Risk Assessment for Unloading of vehicles.

 Maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s

Machine operators, drivers, other instructions.
High pressure hydraulic fluid
workers, unauthorised visitors, H  Safety awareness for persons at risk. L
ejection.
general public.

Site-specific Activities Additional Site–specific Hazards Persons at risk Additional Controls Required

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Risk Assessment for Unloading of vehicles.

Likelihood
How often could the hazard occur? Consider the task, frequency,
duration, method of work, employees involved.

Severity
How serious would the hazard’s effects be if
realised? Consider the type of hazard, biological, ergonomic, physical and
chemical.

Risk = Likelihood x Severity

E.g. Likelihood (4) X Severity (3) = 12 HIGH RISK

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