Devices for Moving Loads
5. HAZARDS AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN THE USE OF AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORT VEHICLES
This section refers to the ISASTUR Group vans and trucks used to transport equipment and materials to different work sites.
5.1 Most important hazards:
5.1.1. Vehicle overturning
May be due, among other reasons, to:
- Faults (human, mechanical) in the use of the vehicle.
Projected particles
May be due, among other reasons, to:
- Projection during the loading or unloading of the vehicle.
- Circulating with the windows open (above all in dusty places).
5.1.2. Knocks
May be due, among other reasons, to:
- Transport of auxiliary elements.
- The existence of unrelated persons within the scope of movement of the vehicle.
- Poor handling of the transport system employed.
- Poor use of the tools employed to repair vehicles.
5.1.3. Becoming trapped
May be due, among other reasons, to:
- Maintenance operations.
Fires
Pueden ser debidos entre otras causas a:
- Short-circuits produced in the electrical installation.
Intoxications
May be due, among other reasons, to:
- Inhaling exhaust fumes.
Crashes or running someone over
May be due, among other reasons, to:
- Circulating on urban roadways or inside the site premises.
- Use of vehicles by unauthorised personnel.
5.1.4. The loads falling
May be due, among other reasons, to:
- Excessive or badly piled load.
- Inappropriate load for the type of trailer.
Preventive measures:
- Vehicles are to be driven by qualified personnel.
- Vehicles are not to have parts sticking out.
- Vehicles must have passed the obligatory inspections.
- Hydraulic brakes with a double independent circuit.
- Non-slip elements for getting on and off .
- Signalling devices.
- Alarm systems for hazardous manoeuvres (reversing, poor visibility, etc.).
- Ventilation and heating systems in cabins.
- Seats that absorb vibrations and which are comfortable.
- Emergency equipment (first-aid box, extinguisher, spare bulbs, etc.).
- Drive vehicles with great caution, above all on terrain that entails some kind of hazard (gradients, trenches, slopes, etc.).
- When parking the vehicle, the hand brake is to be engaged, the ignition is to be switched off and chocks are to be used if necessary.
- When circulating on roads, road regulations are to be strictly adhere to.
Protection measures:
- Use of personal protection elements, such as: gloves, safety belt, suitable footwear for driving gently and smoothly, depending on the hazards.
