Reduce the need to reverse
One-way routes and drive-through loading positions can eliminate manoeuvres. Where reversing is unavoidable, reduce its distance and frequency and define a specific area. The arrangement must accommodate visiting suppliers and unfamiliar vehicles as well as the site’s regular fleet.
At Loading docks, the gap between the rear of a vehicle and the structure is a crushing zone. It must not become a pedestrian shortcut. The Internal traffic in the workplace plan should establish when a person may enter and how vehicle movement incompatible with that access is prevented.
Understand what the driver cannot see
Visibility changes with vehicle size, load, mirrors and additional equipment. A pedestrian seeing the cab does not prove that the driver can see the pedestrian. Explain blind areas using the actual vehicle rather than assuming all trucks or lift trucks have identical visibility.
Cameras, mirrors, sensors and alarms can help, but they have limitations and require maintenance. Dirt, an incomplete camera view or background noise can reduce effectiveness. No electronic aid automatically replaces physical segregation or verification that the intended travel path is controlled.
Define the spotter’s role
Where assessment calls for a spotter, that person must be trained, authorised and positioned outside the danger path. Agree clear signals and who directs the manoeuvre. Do not place someone behind the vehicle as though their presence removes the blind area.
If the driver loses the required contact with the spotter, the manoeuvre stops. A spotter may also be exposed to a second vehicle, so needs a protected working environment rather than only high-visibility clothing. Communication must allow the operation to stop when someone unexpectedly enters the area.
Check the system under real working conditions
Changes to layout, lighting, construction work or deliveries require routes to be reviewed and communicated to drivers. Observe manoeuvres during busy periods, record pedestrian incursions and address visibility or warning-device defects. A marked area used for storing goods no longer performs its intended function even if the site drawing remains correct. Supervisors need to check what actually happens, including how visiting drivers receive instructions on arrival.
