Are you loading vehicles safely and legally?

A ‘load’ is anything carried within a vehicle, be it your lunchbox, tools, or products, and it must be located appropriately and secured properly.

Unsecured loads can be deadly, while overloading can significantly affect the way a vehicle handles, especially in an emergency.

Both employers and employees have a responsibility under The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to secure loads properly.

Insecure loads are treated as a priority road offence, precisely because they are so dangerous, drivers and vehicles can be prohibited by enforcement agencies.

DfBB has produced a range of free resources to help managers and drivers secure loads properly, including:

• An article to share with drivers on safe loading
• Short safety messages to send to drivers on their devices
• Posters for staff noticeboards
• Information sheets

The initiative has also worked with a partner at law firm, Woodfines, to produce a free legal briefing on safe loading.