CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
MAY 2014
38
VEHICLE SAFETY
ROUTE RISK ASSESSMENTS AND TEAMWORK MAKE
the transportation of dangerous goods safer
A
n incident involving a vehicle carrying
dangerous goods can severely impact
the safety and health of road users,
as well as the environment. Employers and
drivers need to work together in a proactive
and responsible manner to prevent incidents
from occurring.
Important elements of a manager’s
responsible behaviour include providing
ongoing driver training, managing the
driver’s journey, assessing the risks that
may be found along a route and noting
the hazards reported by the driver. Route
risk assessments are an important aspect
of safety during the transportation of
dangerous goods and should include
on-road, off-road as well as other
considerations (see the Table below for
examples) that may contribute towards the
risks that the driver will face when travelling
the route agreed upon with the employer.
Alternative routes with lower risks should be
selected whenever possible in preference of
those with a higher risk ranking. The driver
should be thoroughly briefed on the risks
that will be encountered during the journey
as well as how driving should be adapted
in response to the anticipated risks. The
Chemical & Allied Industries’ Association
(CAIA) encourages managers to perform as
comprehensive a route risk assessment as
possible. Drivers should be made aware of
their responsibility to ensure the vehicle is
fit for purpose and safety checked prior to
the journey. These pre-trip inspections are
carried out as support to the vehicle’s overall
maintenance programme. A driver must
always check that all lights are working,
tyres are properly inflated, wheel fixings are
in place, steering is working appropriately,
windscreens are not cracked or damaged,
windows can be safely opened and closed,
wiperblades are working, maximum visibility
is obtained via mirrors and that the security
of the body work and the security of the
load are in order.
CAIA would like to remind transporters of
dangerous goods to ensure that they provide
their drivers with a signed Dangerous
Goods Declaration, the appropriate placards
and transport emergency cards. The driver
is responsible for ensuring that the above
documentation is carried in the emergency
information holder or “Designated Space” in
the vehicle’s cabin, as it must be provided
to emergency services on request.
“Responsible Care will continue to
encourage employers and drivers to work
together to ensure the safe transportation
of dangerous goods and will positively
influence the chemical industry and its
contracted logistics service providers to
improve road safety and to reduce incidents
as far as possible,” says Louise Lindeque,
Responsible Care Manager.
b
“Responsible Care will
continue to encourage
employers and drivers to
work together to ensure
the safe transportation
of dangerous goods and
will positively influence
the chemical industry and
its contracted logistics
service providers to
improve road safety and to
reduce incidents as far as
possible.”
Factors to consider on the route to be travelled
Factors to consider adjacent to the route to be
travelled
Other factors to consider
Road quality
• Surface quality
• Construction and maintenance activities
Residential
• Formal housing
• Informal housing
Environmental sensitivity
• National parks
• Conservation areas
• Protected areas
• National heritage sites
Road shoulders
• Rumble strips
• Surface quality
• Height difference to carriageway
• Obstacle-free zones
Population density
• Human
• Wildlife
• Crossings
Security
• Robberies
• Hijackings
• Safe stopping areas
• Safe overnight facilities
Road markings
• Clarity
• Visibility
• Appropriateness
Agricultural activity
• Farming
• Forestry
• Wildlife
• Topography – dams, rivers, wetlands
Emergency services and Legal requirements
• Location and responsiveness along route
• Speed limits
• Permits
• Weigh bridges
Road conditions
• Normal conditions
• Extreme conditions
• Visibility
• Smoothness
• Potholes
• Gradient available for water drainage and stopping
• Traffic density and seasonality
Restrictions
• Fencing
• Rail crossings
• Tunnels
• Bridges
• Intersections
Alternative route
• Access and directions
