The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety notice for those involved in lorry loader operations with powered 'tilting', 'swing-up' or 'rotating' stabilisers.
On some lorry loaders with powered 'tilting' stabilisers, people can be crushed against the bodywork of the vehicle when the stabilisers are being retracted.
There is a risk of serious injury or death when a powered tilting stabiliser is being rotated to a vertical position. If a stabiliser is retracted towards the vehicle when not vertical, the operator or others positioned in the danger zone can be crushed.
The HSE is aware of three fatal incidents in Great Britain since 2019 where the operator of a lorry loader has been crushed against the bodywork of the vehicle by the retracting leg of a powered tilting stabiliser.
Those involved in lorry loader operations should include the crushing hazard from tilting stabilisers in their risk assessments, and include appropriate control measures in all lorry loader procedural documentation, such as lift plans.
The HSE safety notice should be shared with all personnel involved in lorry loading operations, including:
For more information on this subject, see:
