Load goods vehicles

This standard is about loading goods vehicles, using information about the load type, the delivery requirements and the schedule.

This standard covers multi- and single drop deliveries and includes checking that the vehicle is loaded correctly before it is driven on the public road. It covers knowledge of how a load should be distributed and secured, the physical checks and the documentation needed in order to comply with the relevant legal and organisational requirements before the start of each driving duty.

It also includes the requirement for communication with colleagues and customers involved in loading goods vehicles.

When working with equipment and machinery you must be appropriately trained and hold current certification, where required, in line with relevant legislation.

This standard is relevant to goods vehicle drivers and those who are responsible for loading goods vehicles as part of their job role.

1.    maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in line with the relevant legislation and organisational requirements
2.    assess the risks associated with the work before starting and throughout the activity, take action to minimise risks where possible and report in line with organisational procedures
3.    confirm that the required personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work being carried out is worn at all times in line with organisational procedures
4.    confirm that the relevant training has been received to carry out the work and that any licences and certification required are current, recognise the limits of your competence and seek access to further training where required
5.    obtain the required information for loading the vehicle, confirm that the goods match the relevant delivery documentation and report any errors following organisational procedures
6.    confirm that the goods are in the required condition with no defects, damage or contamination and report any issues following organisational procedures
7.    confirm that the vehicle is compatible with the goods to be carried and able to legally carry the required weight
8.    check that the loading area is suitable and safe for loading the vehicle
9.    confirm that the vehicle is in a safe, secure and stable position ready to receive the goods
10.    when using a banksman, agree all signals beforehand in line with regulations and recognised standards
11.    check whether goods are suitable for manual loading or select the correct equipment for loading the vehicle
12.    check that the equipment used to load goods has been prepared and is operational, in accordance with organisational procedures
13.    load the vehicle correctly, taking account of the type of goods and the delivery schedule, in accordance with loading instructions
14.    check that any mixed goods are loaded in a way that avoids contamination and meets the relevant safety standards
15.    confirm that the weight is distributed correctly for the type of vehicle
16.    secure the load with the correct restraints
17.    secure any loose materials, restraints and ancillary equipment, making sure that they cannot shift or come loose during transport
18.    confirm that all the relevant safety requirements for transporting goods are followed, in line with legal and organisational procedures
19.    maintain communication with colleagues and customers involved in loading the vehicle
20.    deal effectively with issues that arise within the scope and limitations of your responsibilities and competence and report issues which cannot be resolved, in line with organisational procedures
21.    return equipment used to load goods to its original position after use
22.    confirm that delivery records for each load are complete, in line with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures

1.    your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation and organisational requirements
2.    how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the work being carried out, and the suitable control measures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) that can be put in place to reduce risks
3.    the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be worn when loading goods vehicles
4.    how to obtain the relevant information required for loading the vehicle for goods delivery and the importance of matching goods to the relevant delivery documentation
5.    the characteristics of the different types of goods delivered by your organisation and how they need to be loaded onto a goods vehicle
6.    why it is important to check, identify and report, errors, defects, damage and contamination with the goods and what might happen if checks are not completed 
7.    the types of load restrictions for the vehicle, including dimensions and weight, and how to check that the load is within limits, including weight limit and weight distribution 
8.    how the vehicle should be positioned for the safe loading of goods
9.    how the vehicle should be prepared for loading the different goods carried 
10.    how to assess if the goods are suitable for manual loading and the techniques to use for safe lifting
11.    how to identify the correct equipment for loading the vehicle and how to prepare, use, maintain and store it correctly
12.    the loading order to be followed in line with the delivery schedule and how to distribute the goods when loading the vehicle
13.    how and where to check axle weights on the vehicle and when this is required
14.    when it is necessary to redistribute goods during delivery and how best to do this
15.    the temperature and other food safety controls for the handling of food and drink products during the loading process
16.    how to manage the segregation of goods
17.    the importance of avoiding contamination of any mixed goods 
18.    how to check goods are secure and stable and the restraints that can be used for different types of loads
19.    the issues that may occur if loose materials, restraints and ancillary equipment are not secure
20.    the importance of communicating with colleagues and customers involved in loading goods vehicles
21.    the issues that may occur when loading goods vehicles, the actions to take and organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
22.    the information and recording systems used by the organisation and the legal and organisational requirements for maintaining records, including data protection legislation and organisational procedures for data security

Banksman/signaller: a trained and competent person who controls the movements of vehicles, equipment and people to ensure work activities are carried out safely. A hierarchy of controls must be established between the banksman/signaller and other operators to ensure that pre-agreed signals are clearly transmitted and understood.

Delivery records: could be paper documentation or electronic (e.g. hand-held terminals)

Equipment: tools, implements, on-board lifting equipment, tail lifts, lift trucks, conveyors, cranes, ramps, sack barrows, piano wheels, dollies, trucks, trolleys, skates, roller sets, stair climbers, shoulder straps and webbing, ladders

Health and safety includes mental and physical wellbeing

Load could include: containers; sealed loads or trailers; palletised goods; cages; individual boxes/packages; casks/kegs; bulk materials; liquids, powders or grains; food; temperature-controlled goods; livestock; hazardous goods; vehicles, plant or machinery; timber; customer’s removal goods; furniture; goods for return/repair etc

Loading: complete, partial, sequential, single drop, multi-drop

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could include: high-visibility clothing, hard hats, protective clothing, eye protection, masks, gloves, safety footwear

Regulations and recognised standards: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

Restraints: straps, battens, chocks, chains, ropes

Safe System of Work (SSoW) is a method of work that puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards, which are broken down into four elements: safe person; safe equipment; safe place; and safe practice.