Labcraft’s tail lift lighting tips
Commercial vehicle lighting specialist Labcraft has released guidance for operators emphasising the importance of ensuring tail lifts are properly lit when working in poor light.
The company points to research carried out by the Health & Safety Executive, which estimated that the human and economic cost of ‘falls from commercial vehicle’ incidents in the UK over a one-year period was in excess of £36.5 million. A sizeable proportion of these are falls from tail lifts.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are making an urban, retail park or rural delivery, there are safety implications associated with every delivery whether it is a van, truck or trailer,” said Labcraft.
“Many large depots have dedicated loading bays which should be lit to meet health and safety guidelines; however, tall vehicles can block this light even when it comes from lamps that are high up on posts, on walls, ceilings or canopies.
“Many commercial delivery trucks and trailers are fitted with tail lifts to make the loading and unloading process as quick and easy as possible, but what if the overhead lighting doesn’t clearly illuminate the tail lift platform and working area at the rear of the vehicle?”
If you can’t clearly see what you are doing, then various types of accidents are waiting to happen, Labcraft warns.
“Relying on what you think may or may not be beneath you could result in slipping or tripping over anything that may have accidently fallen onto the tail lift platform from the rear of the vehicle, such as packaging, pallet strapping or even liquids that have leaked in transit,” said the firm.
“Whilst working during dawn, twilight or during darkness, we often have to guess on our footings. If we are not in a brightly lit environment this can easily lead to falls directly from the tail lift platform.
“If you cannot clearly see what is happening, then anything falling from the vehicle or tail lift platform can cause damage to the goods, the vehicle and staff.”
The company advocates the installation of LED tail lift lights projecting down on the platform and the surrounding area. Benefits highlighted include improved driver safety, reduced risk to staff and third parties, minimised damage risk to loads, reduced collision risk during the loading/unloading process, increased productivity, and reduced costs due to vehicle damage or legal proceedings.
