There are around 2000 accidents reported per year where people have fallen from vehicles during loading or unloading.

Most of those falls are from less than head height.

5 people died as a result of such falls last year.

The actual number of falls will be very much under-reported.

In our businesses, Car transporter operations are a major cause for concern, especially where loading or unloading takes place on the highway. Bad weather contributes to the risk of drivers slipping or otherwise losing their footing.

Vehicles delivering to site with tail-lifts e.g. tyres and factory parts are also a cause for concern.

Falls do not have to be from great height to cause injury, light parts delivery vans can also be involved.

Where goods have to be retrieved from inside a van, it is safer to bring the goods to the door and put them down, get out of the vehicle and pick up the goods.

Never step out of the back or side loading door of a vehicle ‘backwards’ holding the goods, that is a recipe for falling over, hurting your back, or getting knocked down.

Ensure you have Risk Assessments from contractors delivering to your site and a completed Rules for Contractors Record. Ensure you have a Risk Assessment for your own vehicle operations.