Loading vans safely

Vans are popular for good reasons and are used by many companies. Depending on requirements as a box van, with box body or flatbed, materials, tools, packages, objects, goods of all kinds can be transported and without the need for external freight forwarders or employees with special qualifications and driver's license C. However, the dangers of inadequately secured loads are sometimes underestimated.

When the hammer becomes a life-threatening projectile

There are three main reasons why unsecured cargo becomes a source of danger:

• Parts of the load fall off the vehicle and endanger following road users.
• Load slips due to centrifugal forces in curves and affects driving behavior, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Loaded objects are flung forward in the event of emergency braking or an accident and can - if
  there is no fixed partition to the driver's cab - injure the occupants.

The last point is particularly treacherous, because the laws of physics that apply here are merciless. According to the law of inertia already formulated by Isaac Newton some 300 years ago, every object strives to maintain its speed and direction of motion. This also applies to unsecured objects in a vehicle. The kinetic energy increases quadratically with speed and quickly reaches dangerous levels - for example during braking maneuvers or even a collision. Even at just 50 km/h, unsecured objects accelerate to many times their own weight.

There will be already one in the
A 300 g locksmith's hammer in the rear of the vehicle becomes a life-threatening projectile with a force of 10 to 15 kg. Crash tests with loaded delivery trucks show how unsecured objects fly up from behind and smash through the windshield. Incidentally, this also applies to PWs if, for example, the purchases from the hardware store are not stowed safely. Where employees do not take such risks seriously, the instructing managers are advised to search YouTube for "crash test load".

Loading, transporting and unloading must be safe

In short, securing the transported goods is indispensable, for all vehicle types and transport routes. The load must be secured against falling down, tipping or falling over as well as sliding or rolling away. This applies not only during transport, but also during loading and unloading. Here, too, dangerous situations can arise if, for example, the employee opening a hatch or door is confronted by the unsecured load.

It is often useful to think about the order of later unloading already during loading. It is precisely the moment when, at the point of arrival, the
If the load is not secured properly, there is a risk of injury. If the load is only partially unloaded, the remaining loads may have to be redistributed and secured. If there are signs during the journey that the load has come loose, for example as a result of rattling, clattering or even noticeable sliding, the vehicle must be stopped and re-secured.

Wide range of aids for load securing

If people or goods are injured due to inadequately secured cargo, the driver is quickly held responsible. However, employers and supervisors, as well as shippers and packers, are also jointly responsible. The employer must ensure that suitable load securing aids are available in sufficient quantity and quality. In addition to lashing straps, depending on the vehicle body and the load, these include chains, clamping and plug-in boards, separating grids, safety nets, anti-slip mats, wedges and edge protectors, as well as filling material and dunnage. Especially useful for craftsmen or on assembly are transport boxes, in which small parts, tools, cable drums, etc. can also be safely stowed. All these tools should be checked regularly. Worn elements such as torn straps or bent hooks should be consistently replaced and withdrawn from further use.

Responsible supervisors should keep an eye on whether the selected vehicle is suitable for the load and has the required fastening and anchoring options such as lashing eyes, lashing rails or anchor rails. The permissible total weights and axle loads should always be observed, as should the load distribution. The vehicle axles should always be loaded as evenly as possible and the steering axle should bear at least 20 percent of the vehicle's operating weight. The driver should also know what consequences a load has for the air pressure of the tires and the setting of the headlights.

Every employee who drives a delivery truck should therefore have been instructed on the subject of load securing and when to use which aids in which way. This also includes knowledge of the two most important principles of
Load securing

• Form-fit = load stowed without gaps, which hold each other
• Force fit = lashing down the load with tension belts

Even those who are confident in their PW should familiarize themselves with a delivery vehicle and its driving behavior if they are driving a van for the first time or only occasionally. The vehicle has different dimensions, the load influences the driving behavior, and crosswinds, speed bumps or potholes have a greater effect. Supervisors who assign an employee new to delivery driving should allow the person a period of acclimation without time pressure.

Dangerous goods in the van only after instruction

Some transportation situations typically handled by delivery trucks and vans involve special hazards, e.g.:

• Gas cylinders on the way to the construction site
• Cleaning agents brought to stores as corrosive concentrates
• Infectious linen from clinics in transit to the laundry

In such cases, and in all other dangerous goods transports, it is particularly important that all those involved are instructed on the respective special risks, regulations and protective measures. This applies not only to the driver but also to all those involved in packing, labeling, loading or unloading.

Conclusion: Consistent securing of the load, even in or on vans, is a basic requirement for participation in road traffic and should be a matter of course even for shorter transport routes. Not because the Road Traffic Act (SVG) or the Traffic Regulations Ordinance (VRV) prescribe this, but for the protection of the driver, passengers and other road users. In addition, inadequate securing often results in damage to the goods being transported. If you take consistent preventive action, you will not only save your company costs and fines in the long run, but also delays and trouble with customers and clients.