A BEST PRACTICE GUIDE TO: BRIDGE STRIKE AVOIDANCE
CONTENTS Foreward .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 What is the Scale of the Problem?.................................................................................................................................. 4 What are the Consequences of a Bridge Strike? ............................................................................................... 5 Plant and Equipment Specifics........................................................................................................................................ 6 Load Examples ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Measuring the Height of Your Load .............................................................................................................................. 8 Best Practice Ideas ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Education, Training, Reinforcement, Prevention ........................................................................................... 10 Traffic Signs ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Bridge Strike Hot Spots ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................................. 13 This guide has been produced for the benefit of the Scottish Plant Owners Association members and plant hire community in Scotland – it is the SPOA’s intention to permit free copy and distribution. No action under copyright laws will be pursued. Disclaimer The information contained in the best practice guide is believed to be correct at the time of publication but regulations, standards and specifications do change. The reader must ensure that they refer to their latest company instructions which this document does not supersede. SPOA and the contributors to this best practice guide make no warranties, express or implied, that compliance with the contents of this document is sufficient on its own to ensure safe systems of work or operations. Each user is responsible for their own actions and to ensure relevant legislation is followed including, but not limited to, health and safety legislation and road traffic legislation. Adoption or use of anything referred to or contained in this publication is at your own risk. Neither the SPOA nor the other contributers to this document will be responsible for any loss or damage arising from your use of the guidance. 2
More haste, less speed can apply to many areas of our beloved industry however none more so than the safe transportation of equipment. The damage caused to our industry by bridge strikes affects as all – personally, financially and reputationally. Through the working group and creation of this Best Practice Guide the most recurring reason for bridge strikes is not taking the time to follow the safe systems of work. Where load height measuring and journey planning is not done we run the risk of injury and or death to all road users and the public. Our industry is also unique as we carry special loads where width and turning points can also cause bridge strikes including the hitting of parapets. Whilst this Guide briefly mentions loading, securing and unloading this is also an essential piece of the jigsaw to spend the time on and get right. The SPOA Committee urges all members to continually reinforce all their procedures and safe systems of work with all employees. This Guide is for Transport Departments, Transport Managers, Procurement Teams, LGV Drivers and companies transporting plant including those involved in the sale of plant. Foreword Why specific Plant and Equipment Guidance? Due to the nature of our industry our load dimensions are constantly changing – often multiple times each day Did you know? Whilst good practice guides have been developed in conjunction with other freight and passenger transport industry partners. These are designed to raise the awareness of professional drivers and managers of transport companies to the risks and consequences of bridge strikes. In general terms they also give guidance to them on how they can be prevented. • Recent landmark legal cases mean Network Rail can now claim back from hauliers the huge costs incurred by bridge strikes – and they are aiming to claim back 100 per cent. Until these legal successes, Network Rail had been paying for repairs and compensating train operating companies for delays to their services where Network Rail haven’t been able to claim – costing the taxpayer. • The number of bridge strikes peaks in October, rising to almost 10 per day. Most bridge strikes happen between 10am and 11am, but numbers remain high until around 6pm. Additional resources can be found here Make it Safe, Make it Personal, Make it Home 3
what is the scale of the problem? A bridge strike is an incident in which a vehicle, its load or equipment collides with a bridge. A bridge strike is when any part of a bridge is hit – both the underside typically due to over height vehicles/loads and the parapets wall/guard rail above if a road bridge which can be caused by wide loads in our industry. Each year there are about 2,000 railway bridge strikes, with each costing more than £10,000 for repairs and compensation to train operators for delays caused. Compensation costs Network Rail up to £13m a year, but the true annual cost is estimated to be up to £23m, once the value of undelivered goods, lost productivity from train delays and road congestion are taken into account. Transport Scotland confirmed that 80% of recorded bridge and structure strikes in 2023 involved plant movement on low loaders. admitted to not measuring their vehicle before a trip 52% to not taking low railway bridges into account The diverse nature of loads transported by the plant sector result in many being non-notifiable and/or qualifying as abnormal. bridge strikes per day The lack of specific best practice guide tailored to preventing bridge strikes in the transportation of plant and equipment is exacerbating this issue. 33% of bridge strikes are caused by the 43% of drivers not knowing the height of their load.” Network Rail records 5 of lorry 43%drivers 9% of strikes are caused by bad signage 9% 4
What are the consequences of a bridge strike? • Death or serious injury to yourself or another road user/pedestrian • Train derailment with catastrophic loss of life • Serious economic loss • Loss of license and livelihood • Prosecution • Increased insurance • Loss of Operators License • Damage to reputation and unwanted publicity/social media • £2500 fine and 11 points for striking a bridge REMEMBER You must display the height of your vehicle/load in the cab, this is mandatory if your vehicle and load is over 3 meters or 10ft in height. Failure to do so is a prosecutable offence and could impact your driving licence and operators licence. Do not rely on Sat Nav systems. Railway Bridge: Bridge strikes should immediately be reported to Network Rail and/or the police. If a bridge has an identification plate attached to it with a telephone number, you should call that number to be taken to the regional railway control centre. In any event, the strike should be reported to the police by calling 999. If possible, the following information should be provided when making a report: The date and time of the incident, Bridge identification or location, Whether the bridge is over the road or railway, Any known hazards or if people are at risk of injury, Whether the vehicle is wedged underneath the bridge Road Bridge: Bridge Strike should immediately be reported to the police via 999 What to do when you hit a bridge Not reporting any type of bridge strike is a criminal offence Scottish Plant Owners Association | Bridge STRIKE AVOIDANCE GUIDANCE 5
Plant and Equipment Specifics Approved In-Cab Height Indicator Approved Height Staff To ensure that the overall height of the boom is kept as low as possible fully crowd the arm and bucket and lower the boom until the bucket linkage touches the deck of the flat bed. Before setting off on any journey, whether leaving a depot or returning from site, drivers must know the overall travelling height of their vehicles every single journey. The standard height clearance of UK road bridges is 4.95m (16’3”) unless otherwise stated. Commercial vehicles which exceed 3m in height must have the travelling height displayed in the cab where the driver can easily see it. As the overall travelling height can change depending on the type of load, You should requires drivers to measure the overall travelling height on every occasion that the load exceeds the vehicle height. The overall travelling height must then then be displayed on the in-cab height indicator (allowing an additional 2”) where the driver can easily see it. SPOA members should adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ approach in respect of failure to follow vehicle load height procedures A common denominator with the recent bridge strike incidents in our industry was that the majority involved excavators, bad practises include having the bucket end of the boom placed into the skip of a dumper. This had the effect of raising the overall travelling height of the vehicle load. SAT NAV unit The following equipment is required to measure the height of a vehicle load: • Company approved height measuring device fitted with fold-out arm and extension tube • Company approved in-cab adjustable height indicator • Company approved issued Sat Nav featuring bridge avoidance software – road signs must be adhered to incase software not updated. 6
Load Examples Due to the nature of our industry our load heights are constantly changing – often multiple times each day 7
Measuring the height of your load How to measure the travelling height of the vehicle and load. The below steps should be followed before every journey where the vehicle load exceeds the cab height: Ensure that the vehicle or trailer air suspension has been levelled prior to measuring the highest point of the load. Remove the height staff from the sleeve cover. Ensure the horizontal bar is opened out and secured using the catch on the height staff. Extend the height staff from the ground to the highest point of the load. If the horizontal bar does not reach the highest point of the equipment, attach the extension pipe to enable correct measurement. Once the correct height measurement is identified, add two inches as a safety margin (14ft 2” becomes 14ft 4”) Take a note of the height (14ft 4”) Fold down the height staff and place back in the sleeve cover Record the height on the adjustable height indicator in the cab of the vehicle (14ft 4”) Plan your route avoiding any obstructions i.e. low bridges. The Sat Nav provided should be used with the height of your load entered and the front facing camera operational at all times. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8
Best Practice Ideas Professional eLearning modules are an immersive and online experience that provide challenging scenarios, in a controlled way. Professional eLearning modules generally take 20-40 minutes to complete. Most eLearning providers provide downloadable personalised Certificates on successful completion of the course and/or quiz, which employers can add to employee training files. Driver should periodically show their Depot Manager and/or Transport Manager how to measure a load height, demonstrating their understanding of the required steps on the previous page. Random gate checks by the Depot Manager and/or Transport Manager Professional eLearning packages are available for the training of managers and drivers, to help operators meet their responsibilities. Professional eLearning is designed to improve knowledge and professional standards for any commercial vehicle operator, addressing in detail today’s safety and efficiency challenges. Professional eLearning courses can offer a number of eLearning modules available for both managers and drivers. 1 2 3 9
Education, Training, Reinforcement, Prevention Your responsibilities are to: • Know your vehicle height and width • Know your route • Obey traffic signs • Report any bridge strike Do not rely on the information on the headboard as coupler heights can vary. Report any discrepancy between the measured height and that shown on the headboard to your Transport Manager or Depot Manager Before commencing a journey check: •The security and safety of the load •The height of the cab •The height of the trailer, its load and equipment •That the correct maximum height is displayed in the cab •The maximum vehicle width. •Check you have your movement order (if applicable) •Check and understand your route CHECK IT: PLAN IT: DO IT! Don’t risk wasting a life, your job, your vehicle or getting a jail sentence. DIVERSIONS AND BRIDGE SIGNS If you have been diverted from your original route be bridge height aware. Can you make it safely? - CHECK IT - Your vehicle height; width; and weight Remember to include trailers and loaded materials. If your vehicle is higher than 4.95m / 16’3” plan your route with great care - plan IT - Plan your route to avoid low bridges Do not use SAT NAV it may not hold accurate bridge height information - DO IT - Always display the height of your vehicle in the cab as a reminder; this is the law if your vehicle is higher than 3m / 10 feet. Always obey the height signs on bridges. - CHECK IT - Your new route could be lower All bridges under 4.95m / 16’3” inches have a height sign - plan IT - You may have to re-plan your route Freightscotland.org/lowbridges or 0800 028 1414. Do not use SAT NAV – it may not hold accurate bridge height information - DO IT - If in doubt - stop & check it out. Always obey the height signs on bridges Routes with low bridges may already have advance warning and diversion signs to provide you with alternative route information 10
Traffic Signs You should be aware that traffic signs are provided at bridges to show the maximum permitted vehicle height when less than 16´-6˝ (5.03 metres). Red Circles PROHIBIT If a vehicle is higher than the dimension(s) shown on a circular traffic sign, you must stop and must not pass the sign. If you pass the sign you are likely to collide with the bridge and be prosecuted. At arch bridges, white lines on the road and ‘goal posts’ on the bridge may be provided to indicate the extent of the signed limit on vehicle height, normally over a 3 metre width. There may be an additional set of ‘goal posts’ showing lower limits towards the kerb. At arch bridges ensure your vehicle passes between the goal posts. RED TRIANGLES WARN If the vehicle is higher than the dimension(s) shown on a triangular traffic sign at the bridge, you should not pass the sign. Drivers of vehicles with wide loads over 3m (9´-10˝) need to take extra care at arch bridges as the maximum height available will be less than the signed limit. Slow down as you approach the bridge and only move to the centre of the road when you are sure it is safe to do so. If necessary sound your horn or use dipped headlights to warn of your presence. 11
Headroom only signed if less than 5.03m/16’6” | Refer to High Load Grid if Vehicle/Load height greater than 5.03m/16’6” ROAD: A96 Location: HUNTLY Signed Headroom: 5.1m / 16’-9” w3w: cult.lightbulb.super huntly rail bridge bridge strike hot spots ROAD: A828 Location: Connel, Argyll & Bute Signed Headroom: 4.2m / 13’9” w3w: crockery.mile.mount Strike History 18 strikes recorded since 2000 Connel Bridge ROAD: A90 Location: St Madoes, Perth & Kinross w3w: candy.advising.leathers Strike History 3 major strikes in 2001, 2019 and 2023 Glencarse Overbridge ROAD: A85 Location: Perth w3w: harsh.itself.poems Strike History Struck in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2012 Crieff Road Overbridge ROAD: Greenhill road Location: Paisley Signed Headroom: 3.0m / 10’-0” w3w: spare.mugs.memory Greenhill road railway overbridge 12
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Scottish Plant Owners Association gives thanks to those who have participated in producing this essential guidance and for allowing the use of their material in the name of road safety. AB2K Stuart Gardner & Sam Christie Blackwood Plant Hire David McMaster & Gavin Reid Currie Contractors James Currie GAP Group Mark Anderson, Allister Maxwell, Malcolm Campbell, James Cassidy & Scott Douglas Highland Hammer Hire Callum Mackintosh Jarvie Plant Gordon Robertson JST Gordon Clarkson Malcolm Construction Nigel Rattray Network Rail Philip Wildbore Police Scotland Robert Mackie QBE Insurance David Cairns Sedgewick Gary Wilson Towergate Insurance Brokers Graeme McIntyre Transport Scotland Iain Ferguson Scottish Plant Owners Association | Bridge STRIKE AVOIDANCE GUIDANCE 13
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SPOA2014/V14 - Last updated 16th April 2024 Feet/Inches metres Feet/Inches metres 13’-3” 4.04 13’-0” 3.96 12’-9” 3.89 12’-6” 3.81 12’-3” 3.73 12’-0” 3.66 11’-9” 3.58 11’-6” 3.51 11’-3” 3.43 11’-0” 3.35 10’-0” 3.05 9’-0” 2.75 BRIDGE Height Conversion Chart Scottish Plant Owners Association 1st Floor, Lomond Court, Stirling, FK9 4TU TeL: 01786 230 900 | Email: [email protected] | www.spoa.org.uk 16’-3” 4.95 16’-0” 4.88 15’-9” 4.80 15’-6” 4.72 15’-3” 4.65 15’-0” 4.57 14’-9” 4.50 14’-6” 4.42 14’-3” 4.35 14’-0” 4.27 13’-9” 4.19 13’-6” 4.11 16’-6” 5.03 Make it Safe, Make it Personal, Make it Home