Multimedia

SAFETY ALERT (ALT-015)
Passengers on Mobile Machinery
BACKGROUND
Self propelled work equipment is often
incorrectly used to carry passengers. A
recent incident provides an example of
this, where two workers were observed
riding on a forward tipping site dump
truck, designed for one driver and no
passengers. The driver was positioned
correctly in the seat provided but the
other worker was perched dangerously
on the engine compartment with his
feet resting on the wheel arch. The
temporary road being driven upon
was rough and undulating and it
was noted that pedestrians were
walking alongside the road without
any form of vehicle/pedestrian
segregation or traffic control.
There was therefore a risk of
serious injury or fatality, as the
side passenger could have fallen
and been run over, or rolled onto,
by the machine.
© On-track Multimedia
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Regulation 25 ‘Employees carried on
mobile work equipment’ of the Provision
and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
(PUWER, 1998) states that:
Every employer shall ensure that no
employee is carried on mobile work
equipment unless
a) it is suitable for carrying persons;
b) it incorporates features for reducing
to as low as is reasonably
practicable risks to their safety,
including risks from wheels
or tracks.
Self propelled work equipment should
only be driven by fully trained, competent
operators who have been authorised
to do so and any operation should
be accompanied by a suitable risk
assessment. The nationally recognised
qualification for competence within
Britain is a Scottish/National Vocational
Qualification (S/NVQ) Level II Plant
Operations.
Where one seat is fitted to a machine,
then only one operator must be allowed
to operate that machine. At all times seat
restraint systems should be used and
passengers should never be carried under
any circumstance. Any second passenger
seat fitted by the Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) or retro-fitted by
another manufacturer, should afford the
passenger (and driver) with the same level
of protection with regards to seat restraint
and roll over protective structures.
Pedestrians must be segregated from the
‘operational area’ of the machine and its
transport routes; these routes should have
good clear signage and appropriate traffic
control measures.
Site managers must be knowledgeable about
safe plant operation and must take an active
role in monitoring, controlling and managing
all plant operations on site.
When training novice operators, it is
permissible to work within close proximity of
the machine but a thorough risk assessment
must first be completed and this should
take into account (amongst other things)
the type, size and configuration of machine
being operated, falls from height and
unexpected movement of the machine.
Because such activity is deemed to be high
risk, training should be conducted in a tightly
controlled environment and the
use of handfree mobile
technology (e.g.
phones or walkie
talkies) should be
considered if the
risks identified
cannot be fully
controlled.
Further guidance can be found in the
HSE publications ‘Workplace transport
safety, an employers’ guide’ (HSG 136 –
ISBN 9780717661541) and ‘PUWER 1998.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998’ (ISBN 9780717662852),
as well as in other safety alerts issued by
OPERC (www.operc.com).
Images for illustrative purposes only
OPERC: The home of plant and equipment professionals
www.operc.com

SAFETY ALERT (ALT-015)
Passengers on Mobile Machinery
BACKGROUND
Self propelled work equipment is often
incorrectly used to carry passengers. A
recent incident provides an example of
this, where two workers were observed
riding on a forward tipping site dump
truck, designed for one driver and no
passengers. The driver was positioned
correctly in the seat provided but the
other worker was perched dangerously
on the engine compartment with his
feet resting on the wheel arch. The
temporary road being driven upon
was rough and undulating and it
was noted that pedestrians were
walking alongside the road without
any form of vehicle/pedestrian
segregation or traffic control.
There was therefore a risk of
serious injury or fatality, as the
side passenger could have fallen
and been run over, or rolled onto,
by the machine.
© On-track Multimedia
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Regulation 25 ‘Employees carried on
mobile work equipment’ of the Provision
and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
(PUWER, 1998) states that:
Every employer shall ensure that no
employee is carried on mobile work
equipment unless
a) it is suitable for carrying persons;
b) it incorporates features for reducing
to as low as is reasonably
practicable risks to their safety,
including risks from wheels
or tracks.
Self propelled work equipment should
only be driven by fully trained, competent
operators who have been authorised
to do so and any operation should
be accompanied by a suitable risk
assessment. The nationally recognised
qualification for competence within
Britain is a Scottish/National Vocational
Qualification (S/NVQ) Level II Plant
Operations.
Where one seat is fitted to a machine,
then only one operator must be allowed
to operate that machine. At all times seat
restraint systems should be used and
passengers should never be carried under
any circumstance. Any second passenger
seat fitted by the Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) or retro-fitted by
another manufacturer, should afford the
passenger (and driver) with the same level
of protection with regards to seat restraint
and roll over protective structures.
Pedestrians must be segregated from the
‘operational area’ of the machine and its
transport routes; these routes should have
good clear signage and appropriate traffic
control measures.
Site managers must be knowledgeable about
safe plant operation and must take an active
role in monitoring, controlling and managing
all plant operations on site.
When training novice operators, it is
permissible to work within close proximity of
the machine but a thorough risk assessment
must first be completed and this should
take into account (amongst other things)
the type, size and configuration of machine
being operated, falls from height and
unexpected movement of the machine.
Because such activity is deemed to be high
risk, training should be conducted in a tightly
controlled environment and the
use of handfree mobile
technology (e.g.
phones or walkie
talkies) should be
considered if the
risks identified
cannot be fully
controlled.
Further guidance can be found in the
HSE publications ‘Workplace transport
safety, an employers’ guide’ (HSG 136 –
ISBN 9780717661541) and ‘PUWER 1998.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998’ (ISBN 9780717662852),
as well as in other safety alerts issued by
OPERC (www.operc.com).
Images for illustrative purposes only
OPERC: The home of plant and equipment professionals
www.operc.com