Load removal vehicles

This standard outlines the skills and knowledge required to load removal vehicles safely, efficiently and in compliance with legal and organisational requirements.

It covers how a load should be distributed and secured, checking that the vehicle is loaded correctly before it is driven on the public road and the documentation needed in order to comply with the relevant legal and organisational requirements.

It also includes the requirement for communication with the colleagues and customers involved with the removal.

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 all operatives responsible for loading removal 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 risks before starting and throughout the activity, in accordance with the risk assessment, taking action to minimise risks and reporting them in line with organisational procedures
3.    confirm that the required personal protective equipment (PPE) 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.    confirm that vehicles being used are compatible with the goods to be carried and able to legally carry the required weight
6.    check that loading areas are suitable and safe for loading vehicles
7.    confirm that vehicles are in safe, secure and stable position ready to receive goods
8.    when using a banksman, agree all signals beforehand in line with regulations and recognised standards
9.    use suitable handling techniques and equipment to safely load goods in line with organisational procedures
10.    load vehicles correctly, according to loading plans, taking account of the type of goods and following industry good practice and organisational procedures 
11.    check goods off the inventory as they are loaded in line with organisational procedures
12.    confirm that goods are properly protected and secured with correct restraints to ensure that nothing can move during transit
13.    confirm that weight is distributed correctly for the type of vehicle and does not exceed the maximum permissible laden weight 
14.    return equipment used to load goods to its original position after use and secure any loose materials, restraints and equipment, making sure that they cannot move or come loose during transit
15.    maintain effective communication with colleagues and customers when loading vehicles
16.    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
17.    confirm that documentation and 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 removal vehicles
4.    how to obtain the information required for loading vehicles and the importance of matching goods to relevant documentation
5.    how vehicles should be positioned for the safe loading of goods
6.    how to assess if goods are suitable for manual loading and the techniques to use for safe lifting
7.    how to identify the correct equipment to use for moving goods and loading vehicles safely and how to prepare, use, maintain and store this correctly
8.    the loading order to be followed in line with loading plans and how to distribute goods when loading vehicles
9.    how to load an overseas consignment
10.    the importance of checking goods off the inventory as they are loaded
11.    how goods need to be protected to avoid damage during transit and the materials and equipment used for this
12.    how to check goods are secure and stable and restraints that can be used for different types of goods
13.    the issues that may occur if loose materials, restraints and equipment are not secure during transit
14.    how to check that loads are within vehicle limits including weight limit and weight distribution 
15.    how and where to check axle weights on vehicles and when this is required
16.    the importance of communicating with colleagues and customers involved in loading goods vehicles
17.    the issues that may occur when loading goods vehicles, the actions to take and the organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
18.    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.

Health and safety includes mental and physical wellbeing

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

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

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

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

Restraints: straps, battens, chocks, chains, ropes; webbing

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.