• Container doors
• Rok Straps
• Trailer Container Positioning
• 5th Wheel Operation
• Splitter Trailer
• Working at Heights
• First Aid
• PPE
• Pre Driving Checks
• Defect Reporting
• Idling
• Coupling and Uncoupling
• Refuelling
• Safe Walkways
• Site Speed Limits
• Manoeuvring
• One Way System
• Breakdowns
• Incident Reporting
• Contact Telephone Numbers

• (Extract – a full policy available upon request)

  • In accordance with The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) (HASAW), all employees have a duty to take reasonable care to avoid injury to themselves and others by their work activities and must co-operate with the Company and others in meeting statutory requirements of the Act. The HASAW act applies to everyone at work giving responsibilities to both employers and employees.
  • We will plan, manage and coordinate work, ensuring that safe systems of work are carried out in accordance with written and verbal instructions. Employees are encouraged to make suggestions which will improve health and safety and these should be passed to managers, if changes to working practises are required, thereby making sure that risks are properly controlled.
  • Safe Working Procedures will be written following the compilation of the respective risk assessments.
  • The resulting documents will be approved by A & S Recruitment Management team and issued. If appropriate, the risk assessments and safe working procedures will be demonstrated to the respective employees and contractors. A record of issuance for these documents will be maintained and held on file.

• A & S Recruitment have completed a number of driver related risk assessments and safe working procedures to instruct drivers as to how to avoid accidents and potential harm.
• These documents have been found in the driver’s manual.
• The risk assessments and safe working procedures provide the basis of a driver training programme where all procedures are demonstrated by a competent driver trainer.
• All drivers, undertaking work on behalf of A & S Recruitment are expected to follow these procedures as trained.

• Release seal
• Position the restraint strap behind the vertical stays and lock
• Move hasp covers into upright position
• Move handles up and out of securing points
• Pull handles out from doors
• Ensure securing rods are free from stays
• Slowly pull door toward you
• Look inside to ensure that load is okay and hasn’t moved
• Remove the strap
• Open door fully

A & S Recruitments clients will provide each vehicle with a restraint strap that is to be used when opening the container doors. This strap is to stop items falling out of the container and being damaged.

• To assist drivers in securing door open, our clients will provide two Rok Straps that will be kept either in the office or the vehicle.
• These straps are to be used when the doors are fully open to hold the doors against the side of the container.
• Place one end under the chassis of the trailer and the other end over the bottom cleat of the locking device.
• This will hold the door close to the side of the container while loading / unloading is taking place.

• When transporting a 20 foot container on a 40 foot trailer you MUST ensure that the container is in the correct position on a Dennison trailer.
• The correct position is in position three, regardless of whether the container is empty or loaded.
• This is a construction and use requirement from Dennison trailers and as such must be adhered to.
• It is also to prevent the driver from being hurt if the door swings open when there is a load behind it.

• Reverse onto an empty trailer
• Carry out Tug Test
• DO NOT connect Suzi lines
• Wind up trailer legs
• Remove Dog Clip from Fifth wheel arm
• Pull Bar out, this may require a two man operation
• Forward / Reverse to desired position
• Replace Dog Clip
• Carry out Tug Test to confirm fifth wheel correctly positioned
• Connect Suzi lines
• If 45 foot put box into 20 foot position front of box on front pins of trailer

• When climbing either into or out of the cab you must ensure to maintain three points of contact, using the hand rails provided
• You are NOT to use the steering wheel to assist you climbing into the cab
• You are NOT to get in the container to assist in clearing it out or unloading, as you are not covered by insurance
• If you need to switch a reefer on then you are to use a ladder, you must also get someone to hold the bottom of the ladder while you climb it

• To join trailers
• Line up the two trailers, ensure they are as straight as possible
• Apply the unit hand break
• Raise the rear of the A trailer as high as possible
• Slowly reverse into the B trailer until the two trailers join together ensuring that both trailers are as straight as possible
• Raise both sets of landing legs if appropriate
• Push in button on the A trailer to raise the rear axle
• Pull the A trailer lever out to return the trailer to the operational riding position
• Join the air lines and electrics of the two trailers together
• Release the B trailer parking brake
• Pull the button out to lock the trailer pins and lower the B trailer axle
• Ensure the red light turns green
• Carry out a physical check to make sure the joining pins are locked into place
• Get back into the unit
• Start the engine
• Release the handbrake and pull forward slowly to check the trailers are joined correctly

• You may need to readjust the height of the two trailers to achieve a successful join
• You MUST ensure that the indicator lights have turned green. If they haven’t this is because the trailers aren’t the same height or aligned correctly
• Wear gloves
• Wear Hi vis vest
• Wear safety boots

• Ensure the vehicle and trailer is on a flat surface
• Pull button on the A trailer to lower the rear axle
• Remove the connecting air hoses and electrics joining the B trailer top the A trailer and secure safely
• Apply the B trailer brake
• Pull the button on the B trailer to lift the B trailers front axle up and to release the pins
• The green light will go red
• Push and twist the A trailer lever out to return the trailer to the operational riding position
• Walk around to the other side of the trailer and lower the B trailer landing legs just short of the ground
• After returning to the unit raise the rear of the unit and drive SLOWLY forward – the trailer will split
• After splitting the trailer pull the A trailer lever out to return the trailer to the operating position

• The A trailer brake may come on – if so release it
• The weight distribution of the two containers may be preventing the trailers to split, eg the front box is heavier than the rear box. LOWER the cab and attempt to split as above

• Weight distribution:

  • a.1 x 40′ Max gross weight is 28 tonnes
  • b.2 x 40′ Front container 13 tonnes max
  • Rear container 15 tonnes max

• During normal working hours all clients will hold qualified first aiders on site
• If you are injured while on the yard and you can make your way to the traffic office ask for one of the first aiders and they will assist you
• You MUST complete an accident report for the company’s records
• Accident report sheets are held in the traffic office
• If you are injured outside office hours (1900-0700) you need to report the incident to the security staff and they will organise medical support

• While working in the yard you are required to wear PPE
• The minimum is a Hi Vis vest while walking through the yard
• If you are working on your vehicle, carrying out pre driving checks then you need to wear safety boots, hi vis and gloves
• You don’t need to drive in safety boots but you will need to carry them with you in case the site you are going to require you to wear them in their yard
• You would also be well advised to carry rubber gauntlets and safety hat

• Prior to driving a vehicle the driver is to carry out a check on the vehicle
• Take note of any defects you find

• If you have a defect on your vehicle, you are to notify the Security Hut if it is before 07:00
• The Security Hut will organise repair of your vehicle
• If it is after 07:00 notify the Fleet Department or your operator in the main office
• If you have a defect after you have left the client, you are to phone it through to the Fleet Department as soon as safe to do so and await further instructions

• Vehicle idling is a costly practice which all our clients actively tries to reduce. There is no requirement for a driver to let the engine run while the vehicle is stationary, especially in the yard
• When you are carrying out your vehicle checks at the beginning and end of your shift you do not need to leave the engine running
• Just put the electrics on whilst carrying out your walk round and then start the engine when you need to couple to a trailer or leave the yard
• All you are doing is wasting fuel and costing money
• A cold 12 litre engine will burn 4 litres of fuel an hour
• You will also be affecting the regular drivers fuel bonus by allowing the engine to run unnecessarily
• You MUST make every effort to reduce your idling

• Prior to reversing under trailer ensure hazard lights are on
• Reverse up to trailer, stop vehicle, apply handbrake
• Carry out visual check of trailer to confirm trailer brakes are on
• Lower suspension of unit so as not to damage trailer and or scrape grease from fifth wheel
• Once located onto trailer carry out ‘Tug test’
• Apply handbrake
• Switch off engine
• Ensure 5th wheel locking device is secured and ensure safety (dog) clip is fitted
• Switch on working lamp on the rear of the unit
• Attach Suzi lines
• Release trailer brakes
• Place on registration plate
• Wind up legs
• Check trailer lights are working correctly

• Wear hi vis vest
• Wear safety boots
• Wear gloves
• Wear safety hat

• Reverse into bay – hazard lights on
• Ensure that trailer is parked over dolly strip and in a straight line
• Apply handbrake
• Switch off engine
• Wind down legs
• Remove registration plate
• Switch on working lamp on rear of unit
• Remove suzi lines and stow correctly in to their holders
• Release dog clip
• Pull out 5th wheel handle and lock into open position
• Pull vehicle forward slowly until the unit is off the trailer pin
• Lower the suspension to avoid damage to trailer
• Pull forward and clear the trailer
• Apply handbrake, switch off unit
• Carry out walk round of trailer to confirm it’s in a safe condition

• At the end of your shift with the client please ensure that you refuel the vehicle, at least to the level it was when you began driving it
• Retain the receipt and attach it to any paperwork
• If you have a spillage at the fuel point please inform the staff or put some spill kit over the spillage
• Make sure you wear the correct PPE when you are refuelling

Some of our clients have an Adblue tank in the yard, situated behind wash point. To use the tank, carry out the following:

• Park alongside the tank in the bay facing forward
• Open the door to the nozzle
• Slide your fuel card through the reader vertically
• Enter your vehicles odometer reading
• Place nozzle in tank and draw Adblue
• When completed replace nozzle in holder and secure door
• DON’T enter the amount of Adblue drawn on your paperwork as it is passed direct to the accounts department

• The speed limit in all yards is 10 mph. This is to be adhered to at all times
• There is a one way system in operation in the yard as well. Drivers are to follow it all times while in the yard
• When manoeuvring in the yard you are to put your hazard lights on as you begin your manoeuvre into the selected bay

• There are painted walkways on the floor as well as a number of pedestrian crossings at all of our clients’ locations
• While walking around the yard you are to stay within the painted walkways as much as possible
• You should wear the minimum of a hi vis vest while in the yard
• If you want to cross the yard, please do so using the pedestrian crossings

• While manoeuvring ensure that the vehicles hazard lights are on
• Comply with the yard speed limit while manoeuvring the vehicle
• When you park the vehicle please ensure you apply the handbrake
• If in a yard with a banksman follow their directions, HOWEVER if you collide with anything YOU will be at fault NOT the banksman

• In the event of a breakdown, try and position your vehicle in a safe place and switch off the engine
• Put your hazard lights on
• Contact the traffic office
• Give them the details of the breakdown
• Await recovery

If you are involved in an accident while driving, you need to carry out the following:

• Notify the office as soon as possible
• Get as much information for the office as possible
• NEVER admit liability
• Take photos if you can
• Get names addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses
• If there is damage to the vehicle notify Fleet Department for repair to be organised

Over the course of working with A&S Recruitment you are able to use the following contact numbers:

Main office
Between 0900am and 1700pm
01394 286051

Out of hours
Between 1700pm and 0900am
07739 969552