Incident alert
ACTIVITY:
TRANSPORT / DELIVERY
SUB ACTIVITY:
MOBILE PLANT
TITLE
Articulated delivery vehicle, “tipper” overturn
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
United Kingdom
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT DETAILS
It was extremely fortunate that fatal injuries was avoided when an articulated delivery vehicle overturned and landed on parked van, which was occupied by the driver at the time. The haulage vehicle was delivering aggregate (14mm single size) to a quarry and toppled as the tipper body reached maximum elevation. The tipper body fell onto the contractors van, resulting in extensive damage to both vehicles.
The emergency services were summonsed, with Ambulance, Fire Brigade and Police in attendance. Both drivers of the vehicles were taken to hospital where the van driver was treated for minor injuries and the haulier was diagnosed with a broken bone in his back, fortunately it does not appear that he suffered any paralysis and he has subsequently been discharged.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
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Click image to enlarge
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
Whilst a full investigation is ongoing, the following precautions should be in place to prevent a recurrence:
It has been confirmed that the ground conditions were stable, with only a slight cross fall, which was within tipping guidelines. Are your tipping areas clearly demarcated, with appropriate notices/warning signage, and located on suitable firm level ground?
Whilst the site tipping rules did not specify a safe distance, they did prohibit tipping in the immediate area of people and plant. When were your site’s tipping rules last reviewed? Do the rules specify the required safety zone around tipper vehicles? Are all drivers formally inducted in the rules, with a record being taken?
The articulated vehicle had one of 3 axles raised during the tipping operation, which reduced the vehicle stability, and it has also been reported that the driver was in a hurry and may have raised the vehicle body too quickly. Are regular checks made of tipping areas/operations to ensure that rules are obeyed and safe practices followed?
Tipper overturns are not uncommon within the industry and in this incident it was only by chance that fatalities were avoided. Please minimise the potential for future incidents, where tipping occurs on site specific risk assessments and tipping rules must be in place to ensure that we have designated areas, with good ground conditions, away from overhead obstructions, that exclude personnel and vehicles other than those directly involved in the tipping operations.
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
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