HSA issues safety alert to owners of agricultural tipping trailers
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has issued a further safety warning about an agricultural tipping trailer previously manufactured by Smyth Trailers Limited, which it said is no longer trading.
The HSA said it wanted to alert owners and operators of agricultural tipping trailers about the "hazard" associated with accessing the area beneath the raised body of these trailers.
A previous HSA safety warning was also issued in relation to these trailers in 2009.
According to the authority it is re-issuing the alert following a serious accident in 2023 and a fatal accident in 2009 which involved an agricultural tipping trailer.
"In both cases an agricultural worker was trapped between the trailer body and chassis of a silage trailer which was being lowered from a tipped position.
"The trailers involved in both incidents had been manufactured by Smyth Trailers Limited - no longer trading," the HSA stated.
According to the authority a recall was put in place by Smyth Trailers Limited in 2009 to relocate the trailer stand to a new safe storage position.
"It has now come to the attention of the Health and Safety Authority that some owners, operators of these trailers may not have been aware of this recall, or may not have had the required alterations carried out," it stated.
The HSA has stressed that the space between the trailer body and the chassis "should never be entered while the trailer is being lowered or raised".
It added: "If access to this general area is required for any reason, the trailer should either be in the fully lowered position or if raised, the trailer should be suitably propped.
"Clear instructions to this effect should be given to others who work with or on such equipment."
The HSA has also advised that the trailer stand storage point should not be located in a position where the attachment or retrieval of the stand presents the risk of "crushing to the operator from the lowering of the trailer body".
According to the HSA anyone who operates or own a tipping trailer, or is aware of these trailers manufactured by Smyth Trailers Limited - which is no longer trading - which have the trailer stand located under the side chassis should:
- Consider where the most suitable location for their storage is, when not in use. The practice of storing them under the trailer chassis should cease, as it requires access to an area where there can be a higher risk of being trapped and crushed by moving parts such as downward motion of the trailer body;
- Engage the services of a competent person, such as a mechanical engineer, to ensure the evaluation and relocation of the stand to a safe storage position;
- Ensure that appropriate propping and supports are in place on the trailer and that these are correctly installed in line with the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance activities;
- Ensure the content of the trailers manufacturer’s instruction handbook has been brought to the attention of those working with tipping trailers.
The authority has also said that if they are not already fitted, the use of 'hold to run' controls should be considered as this provides better supervision and control of the trailer lowering movements.
