A sub-contracted haulier rolled an articulated vehicle whilst delivering sand to a customer site.  The driver was wearing his seatbelt and did not sustain any injury.

The site is a new location for the customer’s business and the driver had been there approximately four times prior. The vehicle was not fitted with an inclinometer.

The sand bay is at the edge of a short bowl-shaped dip measuring between 3-5 degrees of camber adjacent to a busy port road.  The artic attempted to deliver across the front of the bay, when the ram was approximately 75% extended the trailer tipped and bridged across the bay wall and the cab rolled 90 degrees onto the floor. 

To unload perpendicular to the bay the cab would extend into the busy port road.

• Periodic monitoring of contracted services to check they are maintaining agreed standards is essential.


• Review the HSE guidance on vehicle handling   https://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/vehiclehandling.htm


• Customer sites taking large volumes of materials to be jointly reviewed so safe practices can be agreed.  This includes new sites or existing sites following changes that may affect our ability to deliver safely.