The figures show that over the last five years, an average of 21 lives have been lost annually to moving vehicles in the workplace, meaning it’s now one of the leading causes of work-related fatalities in the UK. Each year, six lives are lost to vehicle strikes in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, and four each are lost in the construction, transport, and storage industries.

While hefty fines of up to £2.5 million are being administered to deter companies from repeating these deadly mistakes, this does little for the families devastated by the loss of a loved one. Two near-identical stories have hit the news this month alone; both fit the worrying pattern prevalent in many of these inquiries – preventable deaths caused by the disregard of safety procedures when reversing heavy goods vehicles.

The accidents almost always occur when two criteria are met: when a vehicle is sharing a yard with a pedestrian, and when safety procedures are not followed. Recurring issues the HSE sees frequently in workplace traffic accidents are:

• Reversing aids are broken or missing.
• There is little to no traffic management.
• Safe routes for pedestrians are not marked.
• Safety procedures are in place, but not followed.

By understanding the risks, implementing safety measures, and maintaining standards, most vehicle-related deaths can be prevented. But all too often, safety is bypassed to save time or money. Not replacing faulty reversing cameras or cutting across designated walkways to save a few minutes costs lives every year.

Deputy Director for Technical Support and Engagement at the HSE commented on the futility of these accidents, saying, “What strikes me most about these cases is not the complexity of the failures, but their simplicity. Time and again, we see deaths that could have been prevented by basic measures that cost far less than the fines that are ultimately imposed.”

Reminder of safety procedures in workplace transport:

• Revisit risk assessments: Check your risk assessments are up to standard. Use them to create strict and thorough safety policies.
• Maintain standards: Implement routine checks to ensure all employees and contractors follow safe working practices. Keep accurate accident and near-miss reporting to assess whether improvements can and should be made to improve safety.
• Provide training: Training should be provided when onboarding an employee or when they’re exposed to new risks. Keep training records, and offer refresher courses.
• Design a safe site: Where possible, separate people and vehicles. Create dedicated walkways, add physical barriers, and use one-way traffic systems to reduce reversing.
• Install adequate lighting: Ensure sufficient lighting is in place to enable people to work and move around your work site safely. Do not obscure lights with stacked goods.
• Maintain vehicles: Vehicles must be checked before every journey. Ensure reversing aids are working and vehicles are fit for purpose before use.
• Employ a banksman: Consider whether you should hire a banksman to help direct on-site traffic safely. Even if you’re not legally required to, it can be hugely beneficial to keep your team safe.

The HSE has many useful documents to help manage your transport safety in the workplace. See their guidance on workplace transport for more information.