Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others1Csm15 jun 03

Vehicle Towing Vehicle Towing Incident Incident

27 May 2003 at Hawqa27 May 2003 at Hawqa

A briefing pack for drivers and supervisors A briefing pack for drivers and supervisors on the Hazards involved in attempting to on the Hazards involved in attempting to

recover and tow stuck vehiclesrecover and tow stuck vehicles..

Learning points from the incidentLearning points from the incident

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Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others

A truck got stuck in soft sand beside a A truck got stuck in soft sand beside a graded road.graded road.

Vehicle Towing Incident Vehicle Towing Incident

WHAT HAPPENED?WHAT HAPPENED?

•A decision was made to recover the truck by A decision was made to recover the truck by fixing chains to a tanker and tow it free .fixing chains to a tanker and tow it free . •The chain hook came loose and smashed into The chain hook came loose and smashed into the cab of the stuck truck.the cab of the stuck truck.

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Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others

Failure to use the correct towing equipment Failure to use the correct towing equipment Using chains-- not advised for heavy trucks.Using chains-- not advised for heavy trucks.The hook was hooked back onto its own chain The hook was hooked back onto its own chain and slipped off - released. and slipped off - released.

Vehicle Towing IncidentVehicle Towing Incident

Causes:Causes:

Injuries:Injuries: NONE but look how close the drivers NONE but look how close the drivers head is to the broken windscreen and damaged head is to the broken windscreen and damaged cab!! A fatality occurred in SPDC-Nigeria in cab!! A fatality occurred in SPDC-Nigeria in similar circumstances.similar circumstances.

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others4Csm15 jun 03

Graded Road

Never use chains to tow vehicles unless correctly Never use chains to tow vehicles unless correctly secured to secured points on the vehicles. NEVER secured to secured points on the vehicles. NEVER HOOK THE CHAIN BACK ON ITSELF.HOOK THE CHAIN BACK ON ITSELF.Assess, and use suitable tow equipment for Assess, and use suitable tow equipment for recovery of heavy vehicles - recovery of heavy vehicles - solid tow barssolid tow bars preferred, preferred, use heavy winch lines to reach if ground is too soft.use heavy winch lines to reach if ground is too soft.Towing equipment is rated according to the Towing equipment is rated according to the maximum weight of the towed vehicle that can be maximum weight of the towed vehicle that can be towed.towed.

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others5Csm15 jun 03

To determine what type of tow equipment you need,To determine what type of tow equipment you need,

you must know the loaded weight of the vehicle you you must know the loaded weight of the vehicle you are going to toware going to tow !! Use correct towing equipment that is strong enough Use correct towing equipment that is strong enough to overcome the initial resistance and tow the weight to overcome the initial resistance and tow the weight of the stuck vehicle. of the stuck vehicle.

A ½ inch chain has a SWL of approx 4 tonnes only- A ½ inch chain has a SWL of approx 4 tonnes only- and breaking point of 12 tonnes. Not strong enough for and breaking point of 12 tonnes. Not strong enough for large trucks!!-especially loaded!large trucks!!-especially loaded!

Chains do not absorb abrupt tension or shock loading Chains do not absorb abrupt tension or shock loading and can snap. and can snap.

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others6Csm15 jun 03

TowingTowing

Learning points:Learning points:For For heavy trucks/tankersheavy trucks/tankers use either a solid tow bar, use either a solid tow bar, or if a longer distance is required to avoid soft or if a longer distance is required to avoid soft ground, use a winch line truck – NOT chains.ground, use a winch line truck – NOT chains.

If towing out a If towing out a light vehiclelight vehicle use approved tow belts use approved tow belts or chains which are securely fixed-never place the or chains which are securely fixed-never place the hook back on the chain.hook back on the chain.

If you are unsure of how to carry out the tow safely-If you are unsure of how to carry out the tow safely-DO NOT ATTEMPT IT- DO NOT ATTEMPT IT- get competent help.get competent help.

When a tow is in progress ensure everybody is well When a tow is in progress ensure everybody is well clear of the area-if not -clear of the area-if not -STOP the WORKSTOP the WORK..

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Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others

The EndThe End

TOWING SAFELYTOWING SAFELY