Site Delivery Guide
Safe delivery is the joint responsibility of the customer and supplier. There should be an agreement between all parties in advance of the delivery as to the system of work, equipment needed, who will supply this and management arrangements. This information should form the basis of the delivery plan where responsibilities are clear to all parties and site specific issues and solutions are identified.
The Customer should:
i Carry out risk assessment for the unloading operations.
ii Prepare a basic lifting plan in accordance with BS7121 – Series (Codes of Practice for Safe Use of Cranes) that will ensure safe off-loading on site.
This will include:
- Ensuring availability of suitable off-loading equipment.
- Ensuring safe access to the site is available.
- Identifying a suitable location for depositing the load.
- Ensuring the availability of appropriately trained personnel to unload the vehicle.
- Providing safe access to the load for placing dunnage under the lifted corners to facilitate the fitting of chains/strops.
- Provision of adequate training for personnel who will plan and undertake lifting operations.
- Emergency rescue procedures where necessary i,e, if harnesses are in use.
Note – the driver should not be involved in the lifting operations related to the off-loading other than when a driver operated attachment e.g. Hiab, is to be used or when preparing the load for un-loading e.g. removing the load secure straps. Drivers should be located in a safe area.
Further Movement
If the bundles are to be moved around the site after delivery, then the customer should note the following advice:-
- Store the fabric with dunnage between each bundle to facilitate future lifts.
- Plan the lifts before moving bundles i.e. risk assessments, correct equipment and personnel.
- Before moving bundles, ensure that the bundles are tied correctly, particularly where bundles have been split.
DO NOT USE TIES TO LIFT FULL OR SPLIT BUNDLES
Recommended Safe Off Loading Procedures
The bundle ties must not be used to lift bundles but may be used to raise one corner of a bundle at a time. This allows for the placement of dunnage thus creating clearance for chains/slings to be looped through the reinforcement fabric.
Reinforcement fabric should be lifted using one of the recommended methods detailed below, following normal safety precautions applicable
Use of chains or slings
- An OVERHEAD CRANE, VEHICLE MOUNTED CRANE or a FORK LIFT TRUCK fitted with 4 each of either: Chains, Full Steel Wire Slings or Web Slings, may be used for the safe off-loading or movement of reinforcement fabric, but, whether using a crane or fork lift truck and whichever type of sling is being used, the chains slings must be looped through the bundle at the intersection of the 5th cross wire and 3rd line wire, thereby giving an equally balanced weight distribution lift.
- The Chains, Full Steel Wire Slings or Web Slings must be of sufficient and equal length to allow appropriate angle between legs when lifting the reinforcement fabric and must be rated at an appropriate Safe Working Load (SWL).
Use of Hydraulic Grabs
- A FORK LIFT or a VEHICLE MOUNTED CRANE fitted with a certified lifting equipment with 4 lifting legs that is specifically designed for lifting reinforcement fabric may be used for the safe off-loading or movement of fabric. With grabs located as centrally as possible in the bundle, this allows an equally balanced lift and ensures that the reinforcement fabric is held securely.
Use of Forks
- FORK LIFT TRUCK WITH FORKS of adequate length and width may lift a bundle provided the forks are located under the bottom sheet of the bundle. The forks should be of suitable length to ensure stability is maintained. Lifts should be in line with the guidance laid down by the Fork Lift Truck Association.
- Dunnage may be placed between bundles by lifting each corner of the fabric to a suitable height to the vehicle forks under the bottom sheet.
- This method is suitable only for offloading reinforcement fabric a short distance.
Split Bundles
The above procedures also apply when working with split bundles. Split bundles delivered from manufacturers are treated the same as full bundles where the bundle ties have five twists and are folded down and inwards towards the centre of the bundle.
