If you work in the transport industry, you may need to complete your load restraint training. Like any industry, there are many beliefs about the safe carriage of loads. Some of these beliefs come in the form of “She’ll be right mate – I’m only going down the road”; “I’ve been securing loads like this for 20 years and never lost a load yet” or “It’s too heavy to fall off”. For the most part, these comments demonstrate a lack of understanding of the very principles of load restraint and a lot of luck on the part of the individual. Complete your load restraint training to ensure you are aware of your responsibilities and the safest load restraint practises.
The importance of load restraint training is obvious when you consider the consequence of incorrect (or absent) load restraint can mean injury or death.
Following are some common beliefs regarding load restraint and the truth behind those beliefs. These and other important safety facts are fully covered in load restraint training courses.
Ropes are effective as restraint devices for large loads.
The truth is ropes are extremely ineffective as restraint devices. This is because even though a rope might feel tight, the amount of tension in it can be very low.
A ‘curtain side’ can restrain a load properly
A ‘curtain side’ cannot restrain a load properly unless it is part of a certified load restrain system.
Checker plate steel decks are better than smooth flat steel decks.
Checker plate steel decks are just as slippery as smooth flat steel decks.
There is often a great chance of losing a load when breaking at high speed.
There is often a greater chance of losing a load when braking at low speed than at high speed as it is easier for the brakes to grab low speed. Are you surprised to learn that slow speeds pose a greater threat to losing the load than high speeds?
A heavy load is less likely to fall off than a light load.
A heavy load is just as likely to fall off as a light load. The same forces are acting on both. It is a mistake to apply minimal restraint to a heavy load as heavy loads are just as likely or more or fall off – the same forces are acting on both heavy and light loads.
The tension in the lashings increases under heavy braking.
If you have enough tie-down lashings and the load does not shift when cornering or braking, the tension in the lashings always stays the same. It does not increase even under heavy braking because the load has not moved.
The main principle is that a load should not move. Remember, regardless of whether you are cornering or braking, the tension in the lashings stays the same.
After completing load restraint training, transport workers should be armed with the knowledge required to avoid accidents and injuries due to poor load restraint.
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