PLT/Attachments/TBT-PLT-062

Stone Wagons on Site

Plant & Equipment › Attachments › Stone Wagons on Site

Presenter		Project
Location		Date

Stone wagons are heavy goods vehicles delivering aggregates, fill materials, and stone to construction sites.
A fully loaded stone wagon can weigh up to 44 tonnes — the stopping distance is significantly longer than a car.
Wagon drivers often have limited visibility, especially to the nearside, rear, and directly in front of the cab.
PUWER 1998 and CDM 2015 require safe traffic management arrangements for all vehicle movements on site.
The most common incidents involve pedestrians being struck during reversing, tipping, or turning manoeuvres.
Tipping operations create additional hazards from unstable ground, overhead lines, and shifting loads.
Sheeting or covering loads is a legal requirement when travelling on public roads to prevent spillage.
Wheel cleaning facilities must be used to prevent mud and debris transfer onto public highways.
Wagon movements must be planned, briefed, and controlled using traffic management plans and banksmen.
Driver fatigue is a significant risk — many wagon drivers start very early and travel long distances.

Crushing fatalities	Pedestrian workers struck by stone wagons during reversing or tipping are almost always fatally injured.
Limited visibility	Wagon drivers have major blind spots — you may be invisible to them even at close range.
Unstable tipping	Wagons can overturn during tipping operations on soft, uneven, or sloping ground surfaces.

Don't

Follow the site traffic management plan for all wagon routes and tipping areas.
Use a designated banksman to guide every reversing wagon into the tipping position.
Keep pedestrian routes separated from wagon routes using barriers and signage.
Check ground conditions at the tipping area are firm and level before directing in.
Make eye contact with the driver before approaching or crossing in front of the wagon.
Ensure wheel wash or road sweeping prevents mud transfer onto public highways.
Brief delivery drivers on site rules, speed limits, and traffic routes on arrival.
Keep a safe distance from the wagon during tipping — stay clear of the tailgate area.
Report any concerns about driver behaviour, vehicle condition, or overloading promptly.
Maintain clear sight lines at all junctions and crossing points on wagon routes.

DON'T walk behind or beside a reversing wagon without the driver's acknowledgement.
DON'T stand in the tipping zone while a wagon is raising its body to discharge.
DON'T allow wagons to tip on soft ground, slopes, or near excavation edges.
DON'T direct a wagon to reverse without acting as the designated banksman yourself.
DON'T assume the driver has seen you because you can see the cab from your position.
DON'T allow wagon drivers to exceed the site speed limit under any circumstances.
DON'T let wagons leave site with unsheeted loads that could spill on public roads.
DON'T create informal crossing points across active wagon haul routes on site.
DON'T allow wagons to queue on public roads — manage arrivals with timed deliveries.
DON'T ignore a fatigued or impaired wagon driver — report concerns to the supervisor.

See also: Plant and Pedestrian Segregation | Traffic Management

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