Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) recently released a good practice guide on the safe use and maintenance of low loader ramps for loading/ unloading equipment.

You should use industry best practices, such as codes of practice, standards and guidelines, to support your health and safety knowledge.

This guide outlines your responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and suggestions for meeting this. It includes a comprehensive section on managing the high-energy risk of falling ramps. The key risks are uncontrolled ramp descent due to hydraulic failure, the unexpected release of stored hydraulic energy, and crush zones for people in proximity.

The guide outlines controls for these hazards. The most effective is the engineering control of double-acting rams. If this is not feasible, then at least two controls must be in place. These are likely to be an exclusion zone, preferably with a physical barrier, and a spotter.

I would recommend always having an exclusion zone. When setting this up, consider how far an item can fall; is it likely to roll or bounce? Ensure people remain outside the exclusion zone. Remove vehicles as well, as much as possible.

Ensure good maintenance and pre-op checks of the vehicle and the ramps.

There is much more detailed advice in the guide. Visit safewise.co.nz for more information.

Tracey Murphy is the owner and director of Safewise Limited, a health and safety consultancy. She has more than 16 years of experience working with organisations from many different industries. Tracey holds a Diploma in Health and Safety Management and a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health. She is a Professional Member of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management and is on the HASANZ register.