LTB542/16 HSE Safe Coupling and Uncoupling Guide (Large Goods Vehicles & Trailers):

No. 542/2016

14 September 2016

Our Ref: V4/16

HSE Safe Coupling and Uncoupling Guide (Large Goods Vehicles & Trailers):

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The HSE in conjunction with the Freight Transport Association (FTA) Road Haulage Association (RHA), Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) and others published new guidance on the safe coupling, uncoupling and parking of commercial vehicles and trailers.

The Safe coupling and uncoupling guide’ has been developed by the HSE along with Road Transport Industry bodies and Unions from the HSE’s Joint Transportation and Logistics Forum, as a ‘good practice guide’ with the aim of reducing the likelihood of runaway or rollaway incidents. Tragically, each year there are a number of fatalities or serious injuries due to vehicle runaways or trailer rollaways. The cause is often due to the individual in charge mistakenly believing that all brakes are engaged when they are not. This should not happen if simple procedures are followed.

This new guidance has been produced by a working group made up of members of the Transportation and Logistics Forum, which is Chaired by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). It represents industry best practice and is a must-read for drivers, users of large goods vehicles, managers, self-employed drivers and driver training bodies to check and, if necessary, improve their knowledge of the safe procedures.

Every year people are killed or seriously injured and property is damaged as a result of vehicle runaway or trailer rollaway situations. These are often the result of drivers not following safe procedures and those in control of sites not having suitable monitoring arrangements in place to ensure safe procedures are followed. Research conducted by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) suggests many of these events go unreported.

Under health and safety legislation employers have a responsibility to provide and maintain safe systems of work to ensure the health and safety of both those at work and those who may be affected by their activities such as members of the public.

Employers should ensure there are safe systems of work in place for coupling and uncoupling vehicle combinations and that these are understood by those carrying out the activity. There should also be effective arrangements in place to ensure these systems are being followed. Drivers, including the self-employed, have a responsibility for both their own health and safety and that of other people who could be affected by their actions.

This new guide is intended to assist employers, those who control sites where coupling and uncoupling is undertaken by users of large goods vehicles, managers, self-employed drivers and driver training bodies. It has been developed by industry as a good practice guide with the aim of reducing the likelihood of a runaway or rollaway incident.

The guide focuses on the procedures for the safe coupling and uncoupling and parking of standard semitrailers but there is also information on procedures for close coupled semi-trailers, centre axle and turntable drawbar trailers. These are detailed in the appendices.

In addition to these procedures, the guide also contains supplementary safety guidance and advice that should be observed and a section concerning good parking practice.

NOTE: For the purposes of this guide the tractor unit/prime mover is referred to as a truck and the trailer unit is referred to as a trailer. In addition, a runaway is defined as a situation where a truck or truck and trailer combination moves in an uncontrolled manner during coupling/uncoupling. A rollaway is defined as a situation where a trailer moves in an uncontrolled manner independent of the truck.

A Copy of the Guide is attached.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer