1. Falls from vehicles – toolbox talk for construction workers
Add presenter’s name to bottom box
[Documents and information referred to in the toolbox talk – look at these before you begin!
1) Falls from vehicle incident history of your company - if you don’t have any you could look at the case studies on the HSE website at
2) Incident reporting procedure
3) Risk assessments for accessing vehicles
4) Relevant photos of your vehicles and correct access
5) Any company hazard and/or fault reporting procedures
6) Procedures for any “Special” equipment that your company uses e.g. tail-lifts, lorry-loader cranes, double-deck trailers, tankers, car transporters etc.
7) Company procedure for receiving suggestions for improvement to vehicles (see last slide)
8) Information sheets and pocket card available on the HSE website at

2. What is this about?
There are over 2000 ‘Falls from vehicle’ accidents reported to HSE each year
These include on average 5 fatalities each year
Major injuries are usually broken arms or legs, resulting in weeks off work
Look up company accident history for falls from vehicle incidents to use as illustrations.
If you don’t have any relevant ones you could ask the workers if they know of anyone (not necessarily in your company) who has had an accident.
The 2000 accidents include ‘over 3 day’, major and fatal injuries reportable under the RIDDOR Regs.
The unreported ones will be less serious – where people have had fewer than 3 days off work.

3. Construction specific info.
In construction 70% of these accidents occur to non-drivers
90% are low falls, below head height
They occur during off loading of materials or when getting on or off the vehicle
In construction the falls mostly occur from the load area of flatbeds, HGV’s & vans
Look at where your company’s accidents are occurring – what type of vehicles, during what type of work?

4. What are we looking at? Alternatives to working on vehicles
Safe access to and from vehicle beds
Safer working practices
What the company/ies can do
What the operative/worker can do
Explain what you want to talk about and achieve by having the toolbox talk – some suggested headings are included

5. Work at height hierarchy
AVOID work at height on the load area. Use automatic sheeting devices or a fork lift truck for off loading where possible.
PREVENT anyone falling whilst working on the load area by using vehicle fitted edge protection or loading gantries for example.
MINIMISE any injury should a fall occur by using soft landing systems, nets & airbags.
Start by introducing the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and it’s associated hierarchy which should be followed when considering planning any work at height
Hierarchy of control measure when working at height:
1) Avoid working at height if possible
2) Use an existing safe place of work
3) Provide work equipment to prevent falls
4) Mitigate distance and consequences of a fall
5) Instruction and training and/or other means
For the above, collective protective measures (such as scaffolding) must be prioritised over personal protection (such as using a fall arrest harness).
More on the Work at Height Regs 2005 and the heirarchy can be found in a Q & A brief on the HSE website at

6. Getting on to the load area
Only get onto the load area if no other alternative
Always use the steps and hand-hold provided
Do not use the “underrun bars”, these are usually set in and slippery

7. On the load area Keep it tidy – pick up loose ropes, packaging etc.
Keep it clean, free of mud/oil that cause slips and trips
Report broken boards and other tripping hazards
Follow any company procedures

8. Getting down from the load area
DON’T jump off the load area
Always use the steps or access equipment which is provided
Get down backwards, facing the vehicle and using the handhold
If there are problems, report them to your supervisor
Keep the area clean
Mention your reporting procedure – check that issues raised are being dealt with.
Point out that 80% of falls from vehicles are from the load area!

9. ‘Special’ equipment e.g.
Tail-lifts
Tower and mobile cranes
Lorry-loader cranes
Fork-lift trucks
Fall prevention systems - gantries
Soft landing systems – nets, air/bean bags
If you use any of these you can put in a reminder about how these should be used, referring to previous training.
If you don’t use any of these, take the slide out.

10. What the company can do
Specify good access when purchasing new vehicles
Retro-fit equipment if necessary
Respond to ideas for improving access
Keep equipment in good order
Provide slip resistant footwear
Ensure supervisors check how people are getting on and off vehicles
Six information sheets have been produced to help management:
WPT01 Preventing slips, trips and falls from vehicles: The basics
WPT02 Safe access to road-going vehicles: Specifying the right equipment:
WPT Selecting flooring materials to avoid fall from vehicles
WPT04 Selecting the right footwear to avoid fall from vehicles
WPT05 Managing work to avoid falls from vehicles
WPT06 Delivering Safely: cooperating to prevent workplace vehicle accidents
These are available on the HSE website at
In an employer survey only 17% said they asked workers for ideas!

11. What the employee can do
Take a few seconds to climb down facing the vehicle – DON’T jump
Report missing or damaged equipment
Report slip, trip and fall hazards
Wear correct footwear
Look at what other companies do - if you see a good idea, suggest it to your Safety Adviser
Any ideas NOW?
Repeat the ‘don’t jump’ message
Have examples of any paperwork used to report damage and hazards – or suggest a written, dated note. Explain that telling someone about a problem often doesn’t work as they may forget what has been said if they are in the middle of doing a job.
Welcome new ideas. Carefully consider everything suggested. If it is impractical or not reasonably practicable you will need to explain your reasons for rejection otherwise people will think it’s not worth suggesting things. If it is a good idea but you can’t afford a retro-fit, you could agree to add it to the specification for new vehicles