A HGV driver was struck on his hard hat by a metal object that rolled down off the load and struck him whilst he stood below.  The driver was not injured.

The driver was using a spare trailer and did not a have a fob that activated the automatic sheeter from inside the cab.

After the trailer had been loaded the driver exited his cab to activate the sheeter from the front driver’s side of the trailer.  Whilst out of the cab activating the sheeter a piece of metal was pushed off the side by the sheet bar, striking the drivers hard hat. No injury was sustained.  

Below is an image of the material that was being loaded.

1. The drivers good safety behaviour of instinctively putting his hard hat on exiting the cab, saved him from a potential serious injury.


2. Report defective equipment immediately so it can be risk assessed and appropriately controlled.


3. Dynamic risk and hazard assessment; always look around, front, back up and down.