Workplace Transport Health & Safety
On 06 October 2025 a manufacturing company was fined £240,000 and ordered to pay £6,917 in costs at Birmingham Magistrates Court after a man was killed by a reversing HGV. The 61-year-old was walking across the service road on the shared industrial estate when the reversing HGV collided with him.
Every year people are knocked down, run over, or crushed against fixed parts by vehicles (HGV’s, lift trucks and tractors), plant and trailers. The consequences of poor workplace transport operations are obvious, but they can also lead to financial and reputational consequences.
It’s crucial to highlight the fundamental duties of employers and drivers. Employers have a duty to ensure the health and safety of employees and any other individuals, including pedestrians, who may be affected by their work activities. Similarly, drivers have a duty of care to all road users, including pedestrians.
A fundamental part of ensuring compliance with these duties is carrying out a thorough and appropriate risk assessment, identifying potential hazards, and implementing measures to mitigate those risks. The risk assessment must consider all workplace transport activities, which include, but are not limited to, getting on or off the vehicle or trailer, working at height, loading or unloading the vehicle or trailer, vehicle movements within the workplace and coupling and uncoupling trailers.
Operators should record these matters in their risk assessments to ensure they are properly documenting compliance matters, protecting their legal, reputational and financial liability in the unfortunate event an incident occurs.
This article explores the risk of pedestrians being impacted by vehicles on site.
Considerations for Operators
Given the legal and moral obligations, operators must consider several key areas to ensure safety. These include:
Site Safety
- Adequate Lighting Ensure all areas of the site, including vehicle routes, pedestrian walkways, loading zones, and entry/exit points, are well-lit at all times. Use temporary lighting solutions in areas where permanent lighting is insufficient or unavailable, particularly during early mornings, evenings, or poor weather conditions.
- Separation of Pedestrians and Vehicles Design and maintain clearly marked traffic routes that separate pedestrian pathways from vehicle movement zones. Install physical barriers, signage, and designated crossing points to prevent accidental interaction between pedestrians and vehicles. Regularly assess traffic flow and pedestrian movement to identify and mitigate potential risks.
- Minimise Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Reversing Plan to eliminate or minimise the need for HGVs to reverse. Where reversing is unavoidable, implement controls such as the use of trained marshals, reversing alarms, and CCTV. Consider one-way systems and turning circles to facilitate forward movement wherever possible.
Vehicle & Driver Safety
- Safe Waiting Areas for Drivers Provide designated waiting areas for drivers during loading and unloading operations. Ensure these areas are located away from active vehicle routes and hazardous zones.
2. Visibility
o Drivers should not place items in the windscreen area or in the way of mirrors or monitors. These areas should be clear from obstructions.
o Consider additional mirrors to reduce blind spots for drivers.
o Provide CCTV to assist drivers to see clearly behind or around the vehicle.
3. Safety Features
o Provide suitable aids for reversing which could include reversing alarms, additional mirrors, and CCTV.
o Ensure warning systems are working and safety features i.e. seat belts are safe and comfortable;
o Ensure drivers are debriefed and aware of where to stop on site and where to park safely.
4. Training
o Provide initial training to all drivers which should be tailored to the specific risks for your site and vehicles.
o Provide regular refreshing training to reinforce safe behaviours and update drivers on changes to site operations or safety protocols.
o Consider training drivers of all vehicle types.
Ultimately, identifying hazards and risks should be a top priority for every operator. This proactive approach sets the stage for effective safety measures, including:
1. Identifying all relevant health and safety requirements;
2. Communicating these requirements clearly to all stakeholders, including suppliers, hauliers, agency drivers and contractors; and
3. Established robust systems to verify that drivers meet the required safety standards, and regularly updating risk assessment and training to address new or emerging hazards.
By focusing on these key areas, operators can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and create a safer working environment for everyone.
