Select the vehicle and prepare the tipping point
Planning should consider whether the material can be discharged without raising a body. Where tipping is used, the selected vehicle must suit the location and its gradients. Different articulated combinations do not have identical handling or stability characteristics.
The ground needs sufficient capacity throughout the operation, not merely enough to carry a stationary truck. Recent fill, edges, trenches and saturated areas require specific attention. Wheel stops help define an approach limit but cannot strengthen an unstable edge or replace assessment of the ground beneath it.
Check overhead clearance and stability
Review the space occupied by the raised body, including power lines, pipes and structures. Proximity to electrical lines requires controls appropriate to Electrical risk, rather than a visual estimate of clearance made while the load is already being tipped.
Uneven distribution, incorrect tyre pressures and crosswinds can reduce stability. Manufacturer requirements define acceptable equipment conditions and configuration. Workers must recognise changes since the previous visit, including obstacles or settlement caused by other activities at the unloading site.
Do not improvise when material will not flow
Wet, compacted or sticky material can remain on one part of the body and unbalance it. If discharge does not proceed as expected, stop and follow the specific procedure. Jerking the vehicle or entering a raised body to release material can worsen the hazard.
People must remain outside the unloading and potential rollover areas. Exclusion is not limited to the space directly behind the truck: it includes both sides and tailgate movement. Where a spotter is part of the plan, provide a protected position and agreed communication.
Keep unloading separate from maintenance
A hydraulic component alone does not provide protection for work beneath a raised body. Such interventions require equipment-specific isolation and mechanical support. After unloading, check the body, closures and loose material that could fall while travelling. Report problems with the ground or load so that the next driver does not encounter the same hazard without warning. A familiar delivery point still needs reassessment when its conditions change.
