Section 4 - Vehicle maintenance

Check the level of vehicle maintenance is adequate

Is there a regular preventative maintenance programme for every vehicle, carried out at predetermined intervals of time or mileage? eg in accordance with manufacturers' instructions?

By law, every employer must make sure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

It is important that vehicles are maintained so that they are mechanically in good condition.

Planned maintenance should be thorough, regular and frequent enough to meet the manufacturer's guidelines and common sense.

Vehicle Maintenance factsheet[78]

Is there a system for reporting faults on the vehicle and associated equipment and carrying out remedial work?

To help identify problems which may happen while the vehicle is being used, the driver will need instruction or training on carrying out appropriate checks and reporting any problems.

Employers may find it helpful to give drivers a list of daily checks to sign off for their vehicles.

An incident reporting system is essential to enable employers to meet their legal obligations to report some accidents. It is important that managers do not use the  incident reporting system to apportion blame as this may discourage employees from using it.

A clear and simple procedure for reporting faults and hazards can help prevent serious accidents. It is also valuable in monitoring how effective your safety measures are.

It is likely that training will need to cover how and where to report faults or hazards; and procedures for reporting accidents.

Simple guide to Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998[79]

Where vehicle attachments lift people or objects, are thorough examinations undertaken by a competent person (eg your insurance company)?

Do the drivers carry out basic safety checks before using the vehicle?

By law, every employer must make sure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

Inspections could range from drivers carrying out start-up safety checks before using the vehicle (such as checking that the tyres are properly inflated) to regular preventive maintenance inspections carried out based on time or mileage.  Each vehicle you purchase or hire should come with a handbook giving manufacturer's guidance on regular maintenance.

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  1. Workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/index.htm
  2. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/about.htm
  3. Legislationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/legislation.htm
  4. Overview - Management responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/management/index.htm
  5. Risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/management/risk.htm
  6. Taking responsibilityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/management/responsibilities.htm
  7. Communicationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/management/communication.htm
  8. Co-operationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/management/cooperation.htm
  9. FAQs on workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/faq.htm
  10. Overview - People's safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/index.htm
  11. Recruitmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/recruitment.htm
  12. Inductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/induction.htm
  13. Initial traininghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/initialtraining.htm
  14. Refresher traininghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/refreshertraining.htm
  15. Maintaining good practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/goodpractice.htm
  16. Managing contractorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/managingcontractors.htm
  17. Visiting drivershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/managingvisitors.htm
  18. Medical fitness to drivehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/medicalfitness.htm
  19. Smoking in vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/smokinginvehicles.htm
  20. Overview - Vehicle safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/index.htm
  21. Safe vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/safevehicles.htm
  22. Safe manoeuvringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/safemanoeuvring.htm
  23. Ways to stop vehicles from movinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/waystostop.htm
  24. The right vehicle for the jobhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/rightvehicle.htm
  25. Inspection, maintenance and repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/inspection.htm
  26. Securing loadshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/securingloads.htm
  27. Site-based access to vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/sitebased.htm
  28. Vehicle-based access to vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/vehiclebased.htm
  29. Preventing falls from vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/preventingfalls.htm
  30. Safe siteshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/safesites.htm
  31. Safe drivershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/safedrivers.htm
  32. Overview - Site safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/sitelayout.htm
  33. Traffic routeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/trafficroutes.htm
  34. Driving surfaceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/driving.htm
  35. Vehicles and loadshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles.htm
  36. Vehicle handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehiclehandling.htm
  37. Speedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/speed.htm
  38. Traffic managementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/trafficmanagement.htm
  39. Separating pedestrians and vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/separating.htm
  40. Signs, signals and road markingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/signs.htm
  41. Protecting structureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/protecting.htm
  42. Lightinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/lighting.htm
  43. Parking https://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/parking.htm
  44. Loading areashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/loading.htm
  45. Temporary workplaces and unprepared roadwayshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/temporaryworkplace.htm
  46. Site-based ways to stop vehicles from movinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/sitebased.htm
  47. General maintenancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/generalmaintenance.htm
  48. Overview - Lift truckshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/lift-trucks/index.htm
  49. Managing lift truckshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/lift-trucks/managing-lift-trucks.htm
  50. Lift-truck traininghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/lift-trucks/lift-truck-training.htm
  51. Voluntary accreditation schemes for lift-truck traininghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/lift-trucks/accreditation.htm
  52. Thorough examinationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/lift-trucks/thoroughexamination.htm
  53. Frequently asked questionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/lift-trucks/faqs.htm
  54. Overview - Inspectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/index.htm
  55. Management and supervision of workplace transport riskhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section1.htm
  56. Site layout and internal traffic routeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section2.htm
  57. Vehicle selection and suitabilityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section3.htm
  58. Vehicle maintenancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section4.htm
  59. Vehicle movementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section5.htm
  60. Un(loading) activitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section6.htm
  61. Driver competencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section7.htm
  62. (Un)sheetinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section8.htm
  63. Tippinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section9.htm
  64. References and useful linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section10.htm
  65. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/resources.htm
  66. Overview - Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/sitesafe/index.htm
  67. Interactive case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/sitesafe/interactive-case-studies.htm
  68. Overview - Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/publications.htm
  69. Factsheets and further readinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/factsheets/index.htm
  70. Other publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/otherpubs.htm
  71. Overview - Safety signshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/safetysigns/index.htm
  72. Banksman's signalshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/safetysigns/banksman/index.htm
  73. 'Not allowed' signshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/safetysigns/prohibitory.htm
  74. 'Danger warning' signshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/safetysigns/warning.htm
  75. Signs required by lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/safetysigns/mandatory.htm
  76. Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/research.htm
  77. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/statistics.htm
  78. Vehicle Maintenance factsheethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/factsheets/vehicle.htm
  79. Simple guide to Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg291.htm
  80. Simple guide to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg290.htm
  81. Simple guide to Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg291.htm
  82. Vehicle safety informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/information/vehicles.htm
  83. Safe vehiclehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehicles/safevehicles.htm
  84. Next: Section 5 - Vehicle movementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section5.htm
  85. Previous: Section 3 - Vehicle selection and suitabilityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/section3.htm
  86. Checklist HSEhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/checklist/index.htm
  87. Workplace transport safety – an overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg199.htm
  88. Workplace transport safety - An employer's guide (HSG136)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg136.htm
  89. Securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles (Guidance - GOV.UK)https://www.gov.uk/guidance/securing-loads-on-hgvs-and-goods-vehicles
  90. Falls from vehicleshttps://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20200731110308/https://www.hse.gov.uk/fallsfromvehicles/index.htm
  91. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm
  92. Science and researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/research/index.htm
  93. Safety bulletinhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/index.htm
  94. Agriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm
  95. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm
  96. Logisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/logistics/index.htm
  97. Road safety (work related)https://www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety/index.htm
  98. Whole Body Vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/wbv/index.htm
  99. Safety bulletinhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/index.htm

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Updated 2021-11-15