Upcoming transport inspections for the food industry

Food businesses across Northern Ireland to receive a workplace transport safety check.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) will visit food businesses to conduct workplace transport inspections until March 2024.

What will the safety check focus on?

Inspectors during the safety check will assess how food businesses are managing workplace transport risks across three areas, including:

Safe Site

• Is there a traffic management plan in place for the quarry?
• Are pedestrians and vehicles adequately segregated?
• Is there suitable edge protection in place on haul roads and rock traps in place at faces next to haul roads?
• Are there designated routes for pedestrians to travel around the quarry?

Safe Vehicle

• Are measures in place to ensure vehicles have all-around visibility?
• Are procedures in place to carry out pre-use checks and report defects?
• Is daily brake testing carried out on vehicles operating in the quarry?
• Have statutory examinations been completed for vehicles that are used for lifting?

Safe Driver

• Do drivers hold acceptable licenses or training certificates for the vehicles they are authorised to drive?
• Is there a refresher training programme in place for drivers?
• Are there measures to prevent drivers from falling from height during sheeting/loading activities?

You can prepare for your safety inspection by reading practical information in the Health and Safety Executive's (GB) guide to workplace transport safety.

First published 15 September 2023