The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has published a new guide promoting the safe use of forward tipping dumpers
The forward tipping dumpers guide has been commissioned by the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group and published by the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA).
Following a number of serious incidents involving forward tipping dumpers – overturns and individuals being struck by a dumper – an Industry Forum for Dumpers was formed back in 2016 with an aim to avoid all future incidents.
Following a number of meetings, the forum agreed that a total of seven principles would be used as a basis of an industry initiative action plan including the production of a safe use publication, on which the CPA agreed to produce comprehensive guidance through the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group.
The dumper development group was formed to start work on the good practice guide in early 2018. Members of the group include those from hirers and owners, clients, contractors and users, manufacturers and importers and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Four sub-groups were created to focus on specific subject areas including exclusion/segregation, ground conditions, operation and training. The content produced by each of the four working groups was converted into a single document for further development and editing.
The guidance includes topics such as operational factors; management and supervision requirements; training and information; segregation/exclusion zones; dumper specifications; machine selection and compatibility; and ground conditions.
One of the main messages of the safe use guidance is that the use of a dumper should not be an automatic choice. The correct identification of the most appropriate machine should be the first step followed by effective planning, supervision and use of competent people if dumpers are to be used safely.
The use of forward tipping dumpers fitted with a cab is becoming common for which the guidance outlines some of the issues and considerations that need to be made in terms of allowing an operator to remain seated during the loading process.
The development of this good practice guide has drawn on existing work that has already been undertaken by the Industry Forum from which a new section was inserted that highlights the causes and consequences of accidents, based on case studies derived from publicly-available safety alerts and those investigated by the HSE.
The draft document is now available to be downloaded for public comment, providing an opportunity for others to comment on the content before the document is formally launched.
The draft document and a comments form can be downloaded from: www.cpa.uk.net/sfpsgdumpers/.
Following consideration of the comments, the final document is expected by Easter 2019.
