Health & Safety in Logistics: Protecting Your People, Vehicles and Operations

The logistics sector manages the movement of goods from origin to destination and is critical to business operations and the UK economy. With over 625,000 HGVs and 5 million vans in use, transport activity is at an all-time high—bringing increased exposure to safety risks.

What are the main risks?

A key concern is vehicle–pedestrian interaction, which remains one of the leading causes of fatal workplace incidents. Being struck by a moving vehicle accounts for 16% of all workplace fatalities in the UK. This works out at approximately 21 fatalities annually, with common issues being:

Shared spaces between vehicles and pedestrians, and lack of clear pedestrian routes: a recent example was when a delivery driver was fatally crushed between a forklift truck load and his trailer while assisting on-site operations. This highlights the risks to drivers when leaving vehicles and entering unsafe operational zones.

Inadequate traffic management systems, including poor visibility for drivers: vehicles are more likely to be involved in incidents during reversing operations. Reversing is classed as high-risk due to limited driver visibility, missing or defective reversing aids, poorly designed yards and no (or untrained) banksmen.

Poor vehicle safety and maintenance with defective aids such as CCTV, alarms and sensors not working or absent, daily checks not being carried out and faults not being reported correctly.

Driver competence and behaviour: drivers MUST hold a CPC qualification. Risk is increased when there’s a lack of driver training, drivers leave safe zones unnecessarily and their situational awareness is poor.

What are the relevant regulations?

The Road Traffic Act 2006 has a major impact on the legislation around logistics, but we should consider not just getting from A to B but also all work operations at the journey’s start and destination.

Operators of HGVs (>3.5 tonnes) must hold an Operator’s Licence (O-Licence) which is enforced by the Traffic Commissioner and DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency).

How can we eliminate or reduce these risks?

Engineering controls: CCTV systems, reversing alarms and sensors. Having a suitable and sufficiently designed site with segregated pedestrian walkways, physical barriers, one-way traffic systems, defined loading areas and adequate lighting.

Administrative controls: implementing robust traffic management plans, conducting regular vehicle inspections and maintenance, maintaining detailed servicing records and ensuring defect reporting systems are used and effective.

Training and compliance: in addition to driver CPC training, site-specific induction training, reversing and manoeuvring training and pedestrian awareness.

Safe systems of work: look to minimise reversing wherever possible. Prohibit drivers from entering active loading zones without controls, ensure trained banksmen are used where necessary and enforce segregation rules at all times.

Vehicle movement is one of the highest risk activities in logistics but most incidents are preventable through good design and management. Strong compliance and supervision underpin safe operation: separation of people and vehicles is critical, and maintenance and safety systems are non-negotiable essentials.

With increasing vehicle numbers and operational pressures, transport risks must be actively managed. A combination of engineering controls, training, maintenance and safe site design is essential to prevent serious incidents and fatalities.

To discuss your requirements, contact our Health & Safety team:
 healthandsafety@skaltd.co.uk
 01427 420 403

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