Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others Csm15 jun 03 1 Vehicle Towing Incident 27 May 2003 at Hawqa A briefing pack for drivers and supervisors on the Hazards involved in attempting to recover and tow stuck vehicles. Learning points from the incident

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others Csm15 jun 03 2 A truck got stuck in soft sand beside a graded road. Vehicle Towing Incident WHAT HAPPENED? A decision was made to recover the truck byA 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 intoThe chain hook came loose and smashed into the cab of the stuck truck. the cab of the stuck truck.

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others Csm15 jun 03 3  Failure to use the correct towing equipment Using chains-- not advised for heavy trucks.  The hook was hooked back onto its own chain and slipped off - released. Vehicle Towing Incident Causes: Injuries: NONE but look how close the drivers head is to the broken windscreen and damaged cab!! A fatality occurred in SPDC-Nigeria in similar circumstances.

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others Csm15 jun 03 4 Graded Road  Never use chains to tow vehicles unless correctly secured to secured points on the vehicles. NEVER HOOK THE CHAIN BACK ON ITSELF.  Assess, and use suitable tow equipment for recovery of heavy vehicles - solid tow bars preferred, use heavy winch lines to reach if ground is too soft.  Towing equipment is rated according to the maximum weight of the towed vehicle that can be towed.

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others Csm15 jun 03 5  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 tow ! are going to tow !  Use correct towing equipment that is strong enough to overcome the initial resistance and tow the weight of the stuck vehicle.  A ½ inch chain has a SWL of approx 4 tonnes only- and breaking point of 12 tonnes. Not strong enough for large trucks!!-especially loaded!  Chains do not absorb abrupt tension or shock loading and can snap.

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others Csm15 jun 03 6 Towing Learning points:  For heavy trucks/tankers use either a solid tow bar, or if a longer distance is required to avoid soft ground, use a winch line truck – NOT chains.  If towing out a light vehicle use approved tow belts or chains which are securely fixed-never place the hook back on the chain.  If you are unsure of how to carry out the tow safely- DO NOT ATTEMPT IT- get competent help.  When a tow is in progress ensure everybody is well clear of the area-if not - STOP the WORK.

Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others Csm15 jun 03 7 The End TOWING SAFELY