Page 1298 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 481

17 September 2015

Cones Don’t Stop Cars

Demonstrating excellent Best Practice, LCM Environmental and Gilbarco Veeder-Root recently shared
a shocking video clip of a site engineer working inside a manhole, using cones that a site patron failed
to notice until the car struck him. Fortunately, the engineer was unhurt, but this incident encouraged us
to develop an interactive training course on our XmoHub.com training website featuring another similar
incident where a fast moving vehicle hit a defensively parked van and moved it across the forecourt.

In order to improve the defensiveness of the barrier system on site, we strongly recommend that the
vehicle is the best barrier that you possess and suggest that it be positioned between the work area and
the line fire (usually the site entrance). This provides a larger visual aid to oncoming traffic and also a
more substantial physical obstruction should the barrier be hit by oncoming traffic.

When considering whether to use the vehicle as a barrier, conduct a LMRA to determine the likelihood
of oncoming traffic seeing you and at what speed they may be approaching; also consider your own
visibility, if the van is used it can reduce your visibility of the oncoming traffic so careful positioning
may be needed. Remember the van is not an immovable object, if it is hit it will move so give yourself
a safety buffer between the vehicle barrier and the work area.

Our clients are responsible businesses, managed by responsible people; they understand that your safety
is paramount and they will in almost all cases support your proposals in terms of creating a safe
working area and they will in turn work around that if it is well thought through and your LMRA is well
considered and your control measures are reasonably practicable.

If in doubt, always ask your line manager for guidance and NEVER work if you feel it is unsafe to do
so.

We are all a product of learning. Every skill we have; everything we know; everything we believe and everything we do has
been learned throughout the course of our lives. Some of us learn best by studying graphs and charts, some through visual
presentations, and some by reading detailed text books. It is important that we receive information in a format that works for
us as individuals! That’s why at Xmo Strata we use a variety of communication platforms such as bulletins, newsletters,
videos etc. However, if you feel there is a better way for us to share health and safety information, please let us know.
Ultimately, your safety is in your hands – but we will do all we can to keep you well informed!