Spillard News

Anyone involved in the use of construction equipment should be aware of the various regulations now controlling noise and vibration levels as well as general safety rules covering operators and site personnel.
           
However, many of these regulations are complex and it is all too easy to overlook the many details involved. For example, let’s take a closer look at the current legislation covering seat belts and their use.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER98) requires restraint systems to be fitted to all machines that have a risk of rolling over – provided a roll-over structure (ROPS) is fitted. These regulations also dictate that if a machine is equipped with a restraint system, management must ensure that it is used at all times and regularly maintained and inspected.
           
As you should all know, risk assessment plays a major role in the day to day running of any site and the selection of a suitable restraint system is very much a part of the process. There are three types of restraint system currently available :-

1. Over shoulder, lap and diagonal belts (L&D) – designed to restrain the upper torso in a full frontal collision.
2. Lap belts (LAP) – designed to restrain the thighs or pelvis in the event of a collision or roll-over.
3. Full harness (FH) – designed to secure the operator within the envelope of the seat in a roll-over situation.

If now we consider, say, a quarry environment there would need to be an assessment of the likely accidents to occur involving mobile plant such as dump trucks. If, for example, there was a head-on collision between a pair of 50 tonne trucks, none of the above restraint systems is likely to be of much help to the drivers. However, one of the same trucks with a full ROPS rolling off a haul road is a different matter as only a full harness would hold the driver safely within the seat envelope whilst both a L&D and LAP would allow the upper torso to move about considerably with a much greater risk of driver injury.

And remember, it is the responsibility of management to ensure whatever restraint system is fitted to a piece of mobile plant is correctly used – either by on-going training or by the use of a warning device such as a flashing beacon to signify if the restraint is being worn or not.

Fitting and correctly using an appropriate restraint is not the end of the story as they must also be regularly checked for any signs of wear or damage which, if not attended to, can seriously jeopardise operator safety. We recommend that these checks are undertaken as part of any general weekly maintenance schedule. When inspecting seat belt systems, close attention should be made for the following signs:-

1. Webbing with frayed edges.
2. Webbing with nicks, cuts or holes of any size.
3. Buckles which do not lock securely or are worn out or damaged in any way.
4. Retraction mechanisms which do not fully retract the belt or lock it securely into position.
If any of the above signs are noted, the belts should be changed immediately for new ones of the correct type.

Seat belts can become damaged at any stage of the life of the vehicle to which they are fitted and, for example, a small 4 mm long cut or hole can reduce belt strength by a staggering 70%. It goes without saying that under no circumstances should repaired or second hand belts ever be used.
 
In the event of an accident, a belt of any type has to absorb a huge amount of energy and stretches permanently by up to 13% in the process. If this belt is left in place and another accident occurs, it will no longer be able to absorb energy efficiently and could mean the difference between life and death for the unfortunate driver.