Tipper Truck Safety Campaign

Agenda
• Awareness and Training
• Loading and Outward Journey
• Preparation for Departure
• During the Journey
• At the Destination Site
• Point of Delivery and Visual Guides
• Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection
 Introduction
The two most common incidents involving tipper vehicles occur when vehicles overturn or strike an
overhead obstruction. These incidents can result in damage to the vehicle and injury/fatality.

Tipper vehicles can be inherently unstable when tipping.

Unsafe conditions which further compromise stability include:-

• Low tyre pressures
• Uneven loads
• Poor maintenance
• Site conditions such as soft, sloping or uneven ground
• High winds
 Driver Training

• Incidents with tipper vehicles also result from inadequate driver training or a failure to
understand and follow the training. Checks on driver training to be carried out by the contractor
and supervision consultant.

• Awareness and understanding of the risks involved when loading and discharging tipper
vehicles is therefore extremely important to everyone involved in tipping operations including
Tipper Drivers, Vehicle Flagmen and site teams.

• Records of training must be signed and dated to confirm the training has taken place and has
been understood.
 Loading and Outward Journey

• Drivers and teams responsible for loading tipper vehicles need to understand their
responsibilities regarding the vehicle and the load before it is taken onto the public highway.

• Loads must be evenly distributed along the length and across the width of the tipping body.

• Failure to do so may result in an unstable vehicle that may be dangerous to drive and have axle
and tyre overloads, making the vehicle illegal. It can also create a severe hazard during the
tipping process as tippers have a high centre of gravity and any uneven weight distribution can
cause vehicle instability.
Dangerous Situations
 Preparation for Departure

• Drivers must ensure the vehicle does not exceed the gross plated weight or individual axle
weights. Drivers must not proceed if these weights may be exceeded.

• Drivers must be trained to understand the different densities of different loads e.g. wet loads are
heavier than dry loads.

• Before departing, Drivers should safely sheet the load (if this is a site requirement) and check
the vehicle to ensure there are no visible faults which might affect safety. For example, low tyre
pressures will cause the tipping body to lean to one side.
 During the Journey

• Drivers must drive with proper care at all times and monitor the condition of
the vehicle and how it responds on the road.

• If any faults develop with the vehicle the driver must stop and make
arrangements to get the problem resolved.

• Drivers must not proceed to the destination site if the vehicle has any faults
which might affect safety. For example, tyre punctures or suspension faults
which will cause the vehicle to lean more to one side, particularly when
loaded. When tipping this will create a severe hazard affecting the vehicle’s
stability.
 At the Destination Site

• On arrival at the destination site drivers must report to the designated area for site specific
instructions prior to tipping.

• Drivers must comply with all site rules including speed limits, directional signage and all
instructions from site Flagmen.

• Drivers must drive according to the surface conditions, stay on compacted roads, beware
of overhead cables, any height and width limits, site mobile plant and hazards such as soft
ground.

• Tipper vehicles must keep clear of excavations (a minimum safe distance equal to the
excavation depth e.g. if 2m deep 2m away).
Driving near Excavations
 Point of Delivery

• Drivers must not reverse until there are arrangements in place for the vehicle to be
guided by a flagman.

• When manoeuvring to tip, drivers must ensure the vehicle is on flat, firm, stable ground
and there are no overhead obstructions.

• If a slope cannot be avoided then it should run from end to end of the vehicle, not
across the width as this creates instability.

• If the vehicle is articulated, the cab unit and trailer must be in a straight line otherwise
another unstable condition is produced
Always tip on flat firm ground wherever possible
 Point of Delivery

• Drivers must not leave the vehicle to release the tipping body gate unless wearing a
safety helmet, safety boots, high visibility clothing and when required by site rules,
eye and ear protection.

• Drivers must apply the vehicle handbrake before leaving the vehicle.

• Drivers must not walk around the vehicle tipping area or leave vehicles unattended
with the engine running.

• Drivers must check the area is clear of obstructions before tipping and no one is
within any of the vehicle blind-spots.
 Blind Spot Hazards

Blind Spots of
Driver &
Banks man

Active Banks man in wrong position and at

Passive Banks man in wrong an unsafe distance whilst signalling driver.
position in drivers blind spot
 Good Banksmen Position

Active Banks man in right position and at a

safe distance (6m) whilst signalling driver.
 Blind Spot Hazards

Blind
Spots of
Driver &
Banks
man

Active Banks man standing at unsafe distance & in wrong position whilst signalling TIPPER driver to reverse.
 Good Banksmen Position

Banks man standing at safe distance ( 6m ) & in precise position whilst signalling TIPPER driver to reverse.
 Point of Delivery

• Drivers must take care when releasing and securing the tailgate.

• Drivers must ensure no-one is within 6m of the vehicle prior to tipping as this is a place
of danger. If a the vehicle overturns whilst tipping it is unlikely that anyone within 6m
will recognise the warning signs and be able to get clear quickly enough to avoid a
potentially fatal injury.

• Drivers must lower the tipping body immediately if it begins to tilt to the side.
Lower the trailer in a controlled manner and identify why this happened. If it is the ground, find a more
suitable area to tip. If it is a fault with the vehicle do not tip.
 Unloading

• Drivers must stay in the cab while tipping and look to the rear of the vehicle using the
mirrors to monitor the rate of discharge.

• If the driver has any concerns about the safety of the tipping process, e.g. ground or site
conditions, the load, the vehicle and nearby fixed or mobile plant, he must immediately
stop and lower the trailer until the risk has been removed.

• While tipping, it is permitted to slowly drive the vehicle forward to assist the discharge
process if the Driver considers it safe to do so given the height and angle of the tipping
body. All movements must be carried out smoothly, in a slow controlled manner as
sudden movements may cause instability.
 After Tipping

• Drivers must lower the tipping body to around 10º before driving clear of the load to a safe
area.

• Once the tipping body is fully lowered the Driver should clear the rear bearer of debris and
close the tailgate correctly.

• Drivers must check the condition of the vehicle before departing site to ensure it is safe and
there are no problems which might affect safety. For example, if any lights or windows are
obscured with dust / debris or if there are large stones caught within the tires. Any issues
which might affect the vehicle’s safety or which become a hazard to others must be rectified
before leaving site.
 Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection

• All vehicles must be properly maintained with routine servicing and repairs completed at the
correct intervals. Checks on these must be made by the contractor .

• Drivers must complete daily pre-start inspections and it is advisable vehicle owners keep records
of such inspections.

• Breakdown repairs are only permitted after approval with the project manager within a safe area
away from other site activities. Work is not permitted under an un-propped cab, tipping body or
tailgate.

• All wastes must be removed from site by the repair crew and disposed of correctly to an approved
and licenced waste facility.