Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome back to the Stay Safe podcast. I'm your host, Liam Scott, and today we're talking about vehicle safety on site.
We rely on vehicles for all kinds of jobs. Moving materials, transporting crew, speeding up, tasks that would take ages by hand. But the flip side, vehicles are also one of the biggest hazards on a work site. Whether they're getting stuck in the mud, backing into a structure or rolling an ATV over can all happen in a split second if you're not careful. So in this episode we are covering why vehicle safety is a top concern, practical tips for operating site vehicles, and what to do if things go wrong. Okay, why vehicle safety matters. So let's start with a few numbers. Over half of fatal accidents in construction involve a vehicle in some way. Being struck by a vehicle is one of the leading causes of workplace deaths. The financial costs of a single vehicle, related accident, repairs, medical bills, legal claims can reach tens of thousands of pounds. And that's not even counting the human toll of the injuries, potential fatalities and the long term impact on families. So if you think you're just hopping on for a small job, remember how quickly things can go sideways before you start the engine. We need to be doing a quick inspection. Would you drive your personal car if the brakes fell off or the tyres are nearly flat? Probably not. And the same logic applies here. We need to be doing things like checking brakes, steering and tyres, making sure that everything feels right. Look for leaks, so oil or fluid leaks can spell disaster on rough terrain. Lights, indicators and reversing beepers if they're not working. Others may not know that you're moving and visibility.
Clean the mirrors and the windows. A quick wipe can prevent a big accident and it takes a few minutes. But a quick check can prevent hours of trouble or worse. And let's talk about how we actually operate these vehicles. Once you're moving, respecting the terrain. If the ground looks muddy or uneven, assess it before you charge in. Sometimes it's better to find a safer route or prep the ground first. If you do get stuck in the mud, don't just try and floor it. You'll dig yourself in deeper, call for help or use proper recovery methods.
[00:02:17] Speaker B: This podcast is being provided by Scott, Risk management specialist, health and safety consultants. If you operate an SME business, you know that meeting all of the business needs is a juggling act. If you want to simplify safety, save time and stay compliant, SRM Genie is the solution.
For more information, head to the details at the end of this episode.
[00:02:40] Speaker A: Mind your speed. Construction sites are not racetracks. Speeding around a site is a surefire way to lose control or miss spotting a hazard. Keep to the site speed limits. They are there for a reason and awareness is everything. Watch out for pedestrians, overhead structures and other vehicles and always use spotters or a banksman if your visibility is limited.
No horseplay. Don't carry more passengers than is recommended, and don't do just for fun stunts like the donuts or the jumps. It's not worth the risk. And so when we're finished for the day or we're just stepping away temporarily, we need to be securing the vehicle properly. Park on level ground where possible.
Set the brake, lower the attachments like the buckets or the forks, and switch off the engine.
Remove the key so no one accidentally starts up or unauthorised users help themselves. Report any issues. Don't leave it to the next person to discover a fault mid shift and if something goes wrong, despite our best efforts, stop work, switch off the engine and make the area safe. Call for help. Don't try to free a stuck vehicle alone if you're unsure of the terrain or load, assess injuries or damage and get first aid if it's needed. Report incident according to your site procedures and very important, learn from it. If something went wrong, figure out what went wrong so that it doesn't happen again. Okay? So in summary, operating vehicles on site makes life a lot easier until it goes wrong. The good news is that with regular checks, sensible driving and a bit of foresight, you can avoid most problems. So before you hop into the driver's seat today, ask yourself, have I done those quick checks? Do I know my route and my potential hazards?
Am I staying alert to changing conditions? Remember that it only takes one lapse in judgment to turn a straightforward job into a costly accident or worse, a tragedy. Stay safe, stay aware, and treat site vehicles with the respect that they deserve.
[00:04:43] Speaker B: This podcast has been provided by srm, the owners of the bespoke health and safety management software SRM genie, created for and focused on supporting SME businesses. If you would like more information on how you can simplify safety, save time, and stay compliant, go to www.srmgeniesoftware.co.uk.
