Ways to stop vehicles from moving

Key messages

To protect people working on or near them, vehicles must not move when they are parked and during loading, unloading and other operations.

Brakes

Vehicles should have suitable and effective brakes.

Some tanker vehicles have a safety system that prevents the vehicle brakes from being released until the delivery hose has been stored. These systems prevent the driver from driving off while the delivery is still under way. Workers should not use a site-based hose to shortcut this system.

On some vehicles, the handbrake only secures the rear wheels. Fully extending the outriggers on some vehicles may raise the rear wheels off the ground, which might mean the handbrake does not work.

Consider fitting four-wheel braking systems or other effective methods to make sure the vehicle cannot move during loading.

Outriggers and chocks

If it is reasonable, fit outriggers with plates instead of wheels, to increase contact with the ground.

If manufacturers provide wheel chocks, always use these when vehicles are stationary. There should be Information on chocking with the vehicle operating instructions.

Instruct drivers to make sure the wheels remain in contact with the ground when operating outriggers, and to use chocks where provided.

Semi-trailers and tractive units

The 'fail-safe' emergency air brakes on semi-trailers lock the trailer wheels when the air hose connection with the trailer (the 'suzie') is disconnected. If the trailer breaks away from the tractive unit (for example, in a crash), the line is broken and the brakes are applied to stop the trailer.

Drivers sometimes use the emergency brakes as parking brakes when they uncouple the tractive and semi-trailer units, because they have to disconnect the suzie anyway. This should never happen. Air brakes should never be applied solely by disconnecting the suzie hose. The emergency brakes should not be relied on to secure a semi-trailer.

Although the brakes on this system are the same for both the parking and emergency brakes, the control mechanism is different, and emergency brakes should never be relied on to secure a semi-trailer.

Reconnecting the hose will free the brakes immediately, leaving the vehicle free to move with the driver away from the cab. These 'vehicle runaway' accidents are preventable.

When vehicle runaway accidents happen, they often cause serious injuries because there are usually people around the vehicle (for example, the driver). Even if nobody is hurt, there is likely to be significant and expensive damage to the vehicle, buildings or other plant.

The most effective way to prevent vehicle runaways is to make sure that both the tractive unit and semi-trailer parking brake controls are used.

Alarm systems that go off if the driver tries to leave the vehicle cab without applying the handbrake may help to make vehicle runaway accidents less likely, but drivers still need to make sure that semi-trailer parking brakes have been applied.

Relying on the tractive unit handbrake to secure a semi-trailer is not safe. These brakes are not designed to hold the combined weight of the tractive unit and a semi-trailer. A different tractive unit might be involved, which may not be fitted with the same sort of alarm system.

Link URLs in this page

  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
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  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
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  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
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  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. Workplace transport safety – an overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg199.htm
  79. Workplace transport safety - An employer's guide (HSG136)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg136.htm
  80. Securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles (Guidance - GOV.UK)https://www.gov.uk/guidance/securing-loads-on-hgvs-and-goods-vehicles
  81. Falls from vehicleshttps://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20200731110308/https://www.hse.gov.uk/fallsfromvehicles/index.htm
  82. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm
  83. Science and researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/research/index.htm
  84. Safety bulletinhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/index.htm
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  86. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm
  87. Logisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/logistics/index.htm
  88. Road safety (work related)https://www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety/index.htm
  89. Whole Body Vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/wbv/index.htm
  90. Safety bulletinhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/index.htm

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Updated 2022-05-21