Well that’s me knackered then. Be buggered if I know how your supposed to strap down 28000ltrs of milk in a tanker.
Total jobsworth BS. We’ll spend so much time dicking about soon, we won’t actually get anything delivered.
Would a load in a steel shipping container not strapped be classed as insecure ?
Fatboy slimslow:
wheelnutt:
limeyphil:
What the [zb] are rope hooks for? hanging your washing on?.You could call it that, rope hooks are for the sheeting only, not to restrain the actual load.
what? To rope and sheet? You talk bollox!
There are many loads that can’t be strapped but need to be secured.
You put the sheet over the load, The ropes go between the pallets making the sheet taught.
This secures the load.
Dan Punchard:
Would a load in a steel shipping container not strapped be classed as insecure ?
pretty possible.
It would need to be chocked unless it’s tight against the container.
Dan Punchard:
Would a load in a steel shipping container not strapped be classed as insecure ?
Dan, this FTA advice sheet shows how DVSA (VOSA) are targeting certain types of vehicle & load.
For anyone remotely interested the Health & Safety Laboratory (part of the HSE) have just launched an App for Android phones that calculates the number of lashings required to secure a load based on BS EN 12195-1:2010. (Iphone version coming shortly)
The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) has released its first mobile app.
STRapp helps professional drivers and operators of commercial vehicles make sure the loads they carry are safe and secure.
STRapp calculates the optimal number of straps required to secure a load for transport. The calculation is based on the European Standard BS EN 12195-1:2010. It also offers helpful hints and tips about what else you can do to improve your load security.
Available currently for Android devices, STRapp can be purchased from the Google Play store for only 99p.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.uk.gov.HSL.STRapp
STRapp has been developed by HSL, the UK’s premier health and safety research and incident investigations establishment, who has also published the transport guides ‘Load Safe, Road Safe — A Professional Driver’s Guide to Safe Loading and Transport’ as well as ‘Transport Safety — An Operator’s Guide to Safe Loading and Transport’."
I’ve got the App and given it a try. What do you think of the below
2000kg pallet L4.1m, W2m & H1.8m
Loaded to the headboard
Wooden pallet wrapped in plastic wrap on wooden trailer floor
450DaN Standard Tension Force ratchet/strap
Straps at 80 degrees to the trailer floor
TOTAL STRAPS REQUIRED = 5
Using the same information the IMO Model Course 3.18 standard (another standard VOSA have mentioned on their website) reckons a total of 4 straps so about the same.
Load as above loaded away from the headboard BS12195-1:2010 says TOTAL STRAPS REQUIRED = 12. IMO 3.18 says 10 so pretty much the same results.
It is my understanding VOSA will use the BS EN 12195-1:2010 standard as used in the HSL STRapp to assess a load if needed.
So … I have a customer carries packs of timber. 16 packs per trailer (double stacked) totalling 24t. Loaded from the headboard back with no gaps between pallets or headboard the HSL’s Strapp App claims “Your load will require a lot of straps. You may want to consider a more practicable method of restraint” and then gives an answer of 50 straps 
I think the point being missed by many posts on here is that enforcement is changing. A prohibition and £100 fixed penalty will be issued if VOSA consider there is an issue according to their matrix that they have made available. if you do not agree with the fixed penalty, complete section 2 and send to Swansea (with your £100) to have your opportunity to state your case in court.
of course in court you will need to demonstrate why VOSA were wrong. Obviously VOSA will produce documented standards such as the BS EN 12195 standard (a standard your load didn’t reach) and you will present your many years experience and knowhow … maybe you’ll convince the jury you do know better than the experts.
I don’t know who or how many people came up with the BS EN12195 standard, but the IMO 3.18 guidance had over 30 industry experts involved … might just carry some weight in court.
The problem is that to issue a PG9 or fixed penalty they don’t need to prove anything at the roadside. YES we/you should all stand up to VOSA if they are wrong but be prepared for a fight in court. if you can produce valid evidence they were wrong then you win.
And whilst you’re at it with your spare time - have a look at this website. Photo of the month – Transport Informations Service - inparticular this one December 2013 – Transport Informations Service.
Don’t necessarily be so confident that VOSA will be dead keen on going to court. Post-self-funding, they’ve got more to lose than they gain
shep532:
It is my understanding VOSA will use the BS EN 12195-1:2010 standard as used in the HSL STRapp to assess a load if needed.…
I think the point being missed by many posts on here is that enforcement is changing. A prohibition and £100 fixed penalty will be issued if VOSA consider there is an issue according to their matrix that they have made available. if you do not agree with the fixed penalty, complete section 2 and send to Swansea (with your £100) to have your opportunity to state your case in court.
of course in court you will need to demonstrate why VOSA were wrong. Obviously VOSA will produce documented standards such as the BS EN 12195 standard (a standard your load didn’t reach) and you will present your many years experience and knowhow … maybe you’ll convince the jury you do know better than the experts.
I don’t know who or how many people came up with the BS EN12195 standard, but the IMO 3.18 guidance had over 30 industry experts involved … might just carry some weight in court.
The problem is that to issue a PG9 or fixed penalty they don’t need to prove anything at the roadside. YES we/you should all stand up to VOSA if they are wrong but be prepared for a fight in court. if you can produce valid evidence they were wrong then you win.
And whilst you’re at it with your spare time - have a look at this website. Photo of the month – Transport Informations Service - inparticular this one December 2013 – Transport Informations Service.
That looks a handy app. As far as i know only some operators are required to operate to that BS standard, not all are required to do it.
As regards VOSA , not sure how they could apply a BS standard to a driver who does not have to work to it. I.e he secures his load as per C&U regs. Thats all he’s required to do ?
You’re not sure how VOSA could apply a ‘BS’ standard. 
Here’s an idea. Just do away with curtain sides. Anything for the building trade, ie bricks cement and plasterboard, on flats, strapped and sheeted. Anything palletised, in a box/fridge barred at the back. No double stacked pallets over 100kg. I’m looking for a job away from curtains. It’s just getting silly now. We do timber and plasterboard, 24t ish, headboard to back doors, now these idiots are telling me it need 50 straps. ■■■■ that
Youngy:
The trailer was sealed however Vosa have instructed that the seal should be broken to check the load then a remark written on paper work and a new seal put on.
I’ll just point out to you that VOSA have no powers to search the vehicle. So if the load was leaning through the curtain then they will be within their rights to inspect it. If its not then they havn’t got the power to search it to check.
Own Account Driver:
You’re not sure how VOSA could apply a ‘BS’ standard.
You’ll have to expand on that.
OVLOV JAY:
Here’s an idea. Just do away with curtain sides. Anything for the building trade, ie bricks cement and plasterboard, on flats, strapped and sheeted. Anything palletised, in a box/fridge barred at the back. No double stacked pallets over 100kg. I’m looking for a job away from curtains. It’s just getting silly now. We do timber and plasterboard, 24t ish, headboard to back doors, now these idiots are telling me it need 50 straps. [zb] that
right kit for the job comes to mind… everything will require restraints crossing the front of the load and the back so as not to rely on the headboard like this driver did
Mike-C:
Youngy:
The trailer was sealed however Vosa have instructed that the seal should be broken to check the load then a remark written on paper work and a new seal put on.I’ll just point out to you that VOSA have no powers to search the vehicle. So if the load was leaning through the curtain then they will be within their rights to inspect it. If its not then they havn’t got the power to search it to check.
However - if they have reason for concern regarding safety on the road they can simply PG9 the vehicle, immobilise it and come back when you can satisfy their requirement to assess the load.
nick2008:
everything will require restraints crossing the front of the load and the back so as not to rely on the headboard like this driver did
Excellent point but if enough lashings are used they will ‘support’ the headboard sufficiently without the need for crossing the front of the load. The BS 12195 takes into account the EN 12642 minimum standard for headboard design (max 5t). So of the payload is 10t and the lashings take care of 5t of that - this leaves only 5t bearing onto the headboard kind of thing … of course anything done to stop forward movement is a good idea. i think the load in the pic had a gap to the headboard - always a mistake.
However the BS EN 12195 standard allows for the longitudinal force of 80% of the load acting in a forward direction whereas the HSE suggest 100% forward retention and their new STRapp takes this into account and will require more straps than the BS 12195 standard.
it is also VERY interesting to note the latest version of the European best practice Guidlines suggest that SUDDEN LANE CHANGES, SWERVING, EMERGENCY BRAKING can be considered as NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS and the load should be secured to allow for this.
Collisions and roll overs are not normal driving conditions - apparently
The sort of load there was never gonna stay put with straight over restraints, much the same as sheet ply.
If you gotta spread the load (for weight distribution) your gonna have gaps and where you have gaps you’ll have the potential of movement and that movement if allowed will knock on to the next pack etc etc. That headboard might be able to withstand 10t but with momentum it aint gonna stop that sort of load… I wonder how head boards or that part of the trailer is checked as you have a internal floor and lining inside the trailer where your unable to check welds etc …I’ve pulled some shed trailers in the past for some major supermarkets in the past.
Makes you wonder who you put your trust in.