Driver Training for Timber Haulage

1. Driver Training for Timber Haulage Driver Development Safety

2. Understanding HGV Safety and Fuel Efficiency in Timber Haulage • Benefits • Vehicle Safety walk around checks • Safety • Fuel efficiency

3. Necessary Qualities of Driver Training for Timber Haulage Planning Consideration Staying in Control Care Safety Courtesy Awareness Responsibility Observation

4. Benefits to You the Driver • Improve fuel consumption • Reduce stress and fatigue • Enhance road and ‘off-tarmac’ safety • Reduce vehicle downtime and costs • Protect Industry, Company Brand and Image • Reduce Environmental Pollution • Protect Livelihood

5. Vehicle safety checks • Cab air deflector • Visual check of fuel tank • Tyres • Check bolsters • Check outriggers • Trailer tyre check • Listen for air leaks • Cab gap • Engine oil / fuel leaks • Binding brakes • Emissions i.e. smoke • In-cab instrument check

6. Crane safety checks • On approach, look to see how the crane is sitting and check for obvious leaks • Ensure stabilising legs are locked and the safety clips are in place • Check for damage, bulges and leaks with the hydraulics (hoses, pipes and unions) • Check pins are secure on the hydraulic ram, both at the top and the bottom • Ensure the seat and all crane access steps are in place and secure • Check the gantry for any cracks in welding or splits, and ensure it is secured • Check all location bolts for splits, on the leg beams and the chassis • Check the boom and pins are secured, and for any cracks • Ensure all lights are working and secure

7. Safety Awareness • Safety is crucial at all times • Operating on harvesting sites can be dangerous • All vehicles should carry a pollution prevention kit • If you are tired, take a break • You must observe the law and take your minimum breaks • Do not take risks (high mileage drivers take more risks than other drivers)

8. Risk Assessment Question: How do you get access to risk assessments for all the sites you operate on? • Understand and follow the advice in the risk assessments for all sites you work on • If you have not received a copy of the necessary risk assessments, speak to your operations manager

9. Lone Working Good Practice Question: What procedures do you follow when lone working? • Always be aware of, and follow, best practice when lone working • Communication: It is advisable to notify someone of the following • Where you are going • Your planned route • When you will be back

10. Equipment Drivers must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment • Hard hat • High visibility jacket • Steel toe capped boots • Gloves • Non snag clothing Ensure PPE is kept clean and in good condition

11. Agreed Routes Question: What do the colours on the agreed route maps mean? • Agreed route maps must be used where they exist • All drivers should be aware of the agreed route(s) and use them Question: Do you have agreed route maps?

12. Driver Care Potential problems with haulage on public and forestry roads are: • Excessive speed • Unsafe loads • Unnecessary damage to walls and verges • Inappropriate timing • Use of unsuitable ‘short-cuts’ in preference to agreed routes • Delays to reporting damage • Driving in convoy

13. On Road and Off Tarmac Driving Good Practice • Drive appropriately for the weather and road conditions • Observe gross vehicle weights • Adhere to speed limits • Be aware of other road users • Plan ahead • Park vehicle so it does not hinder site activities and the use of the road • The driver is responsible for deciding if a forest road is safe to use

14. Turning • Only turn in designated turning areas (or areas where it is safe to do so) • Be aware of verges and ditches • Be aware of road edge failure • If appropriate, follow the designated 1-way system • If possible, turn before you load • If you turn in an unsafe place, you risk your vehicle overturning

15. Crane Operation • Use appropriate mounting and dismounting technique when accessing the crane • Drivers must not move off unless the loader is properly secured • Maintain equipment in a safe condition for use • Inspect regularly to ensure crane is safe for use • Keep a record of inspection until the next inspection • Use suitable guards and protection devices (PPE and emergency stop buttons) • Always follow the guidance in the manufacturer’s instruction manual • Be aware of operator limitations when working at height • Only carry out maintenance when equipment is shut down

16. Loading • Where possible, the vehicle should be positioned away from the road edge • Adequate signage should be put in place during loading to warn others of the hazards • Loader stabilisers should always be used while loading • Where required, load spreaders should be used under outriggers • Overloading vehicles significantly increases forest road damage • Avoid uneven loading of the vehicle • Stacks must be left safe after loading

17. Load Security • Where headboards are fitted, the height of the headboard should be sufficient to stop forward movement of load • If no headboard is fitted ,the first bay should have two straps • Following bays must have at least 1 strap per bay • Timber must should not be loaded across the top of 2 adjoining bays • Timber should not be loaded transversely without suitable gates • Timber should not be loaded to a height greater than that of the bolsters • The outer logs should not be higher than the centre log crowning the load • Pins and bolsters should not spread beyond the width of the trailer when loaded • Loose bolsters must not be used • The load and load straps must be checked before passing from forest to public road • The driver is responsible at all times for checking the load is secure

18. Unloading at delivery site • Drivers must understand and obey site safety rules • Drivers should be aware of the site specific risk assessment • Drivers must wear the appropriate PPE as specified in the site rules • The loader should be positioned for safe and efficient unloading • Stabilisers should be used when unloading with a vehicle-mounted loader • The loader, pins and bolsters should be secured and checked before leaving • The vehicle should be swept clean of all debris in the designated area • Drivers should have the correct paperwork for each load

19. Haulage Sanctions FC is monitoring breeches of policy regarding uplift procedures and overloading. Sanctions for: • Pin request after load is delivered • Failure to request a PIN • Failure to uplift within PIN window (lifting load before PIN is valid or after it expires) • Overloading Sanctions • Monitored monthly • 1 breech = 1 day ban on uplift on the contract • Contract specific • Cumulative records will be maintained and used to monitor contract performance • Persistent and repeated breaches may result in contract termination

20. Driver responsibilities during training • The driver is responsible for keeping within the law at all times when driving the vehicle • The driver is not under basic instruction and will have full control of the vehicle during the road drive at all times • ‘Obligation to obey the Rules and Regulations covering that particular class of vehicle on the road’

21. Now... • ‘Check it Out’ video • Forestry Safety video • Eyesight check • Vehicle checks