HSE WARNING TO HGV DRIVERS AND HAULIERS
Hand brake alarms on truck units
Many vehicles are fitted with visual and audible parking brake warning alarms as standard, however there will still be a number of older vehicles in circulation which do not have them fitted. Time and cost have been barriers to having hand brake alarms retro fitted.
However, following another recent Runaway incident and subsequent Court case and prosecution, Hauliers need to seriously consider retro fitting audible hand brake warning alarms to their tractor units as the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) UK considers it reasonably practicable to do so!
A further warning for Drivers...
Where in previous cases, we have seen the drivers Company fined for breaches to the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974; in this instance, the driver of the HGV was given a suspended prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and a breach of section 7 of the Health & Safety at Work Act.
See the below link for further details:
http://press.hse.gov.uk/2016/death-of-road-worker-prompts-hse-warning-to hgv-drivers/?eban=govdel-press-release&cr=24-May-2016
