Practice 000.653.

3202
Date 01Feb2010
Page 1 of 8

LOADING AND UNLOADING MATERIAL

PURPOSE
This practice provides the requirements for safely loading and unloading materials from
vehicles.
SCOPE
This practice includes the following major sections:

General Requirements
Hazards
Job Safety Analysis
Mechanical Lifting Devices
Equipment and Vehicle Inspections
Communications
Load Composition and Characteristics
Shipping Agent
Receiving Crew
Vehicle and Personnel Interaction
Lifting Points
Load/Unloading Area

APPLICATION
This practice applies to work activities and employees under the control of P2S and its
contractors.
DEFINITIONS
Cradles Purpose made equipment that is used to manage loads of equipment while
being transported or lifted.
Flat Rack Purpose made unit, which is compatible with shipping containers and come
in 20-feet (6.1-meters) and 40-feet (12.2-meters) configurations.
Palletized Where materials and equipment have been stacked and restrained in
pallet-type sections whether tied, shrink-wrapped, etc.
Crated Materials loaded into crates, which have tine access for forklifts.
Boxed Equipment that has been packaged in boxes, which have tine access for forklifts.
Containerized Material that can be transported in bulk or as mixed loads inside sea
containers.

Health, Safety, and Environmental

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LOADING AND UNLOADING MATERIAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PURPOSE......................................................................................................................................................................1
SCOPE...........................................................................................................................................................................1
APPLICATION.............................................................................................................................................................1
DEFINITIONS..............................................................................................................................................................1
1.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS........................................................................................................................3
2.0 HAZARDS..........................................................................................................................................................3
3.0 JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS.................................................................................................................................4
4.0 MECHANICAL LIFTING DEVICES.............................................................................................................4
5.0 EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE INSPECTIONS............................................................................................5
6.0 COMMUNICATIONS.......................................................................................................................................5
7.0 LOAD COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERISTICS..................................................................................5
8.0 SHIPPING AGENT...........................................................................................................................................6
9.0 RECEIVING CREW.........................................................................................................................................6
10.0 VEHICLE AND PERSONNEL INTERACTION...........................................................................................7
11.0 LIFTING POINTS.............................................................................................................................................7
12.0 LOADING/UNLOADING AREA....................................................................................................................7
13.0 REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................................8

Health, Safety, and Environmental

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Date 01Feb2010
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LOADING AND UNLOADING MATERIAL

1.0

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Only trained employees will load or unload materials from trucks.
Activities, which require employees to use any form of manual handling, will be
conducted in accordance with Practice 000.653.3305, Manual Handling.
Cranes and other lifting machinery/equipment will be managed in accordance with the
Practices 000.502.0100, Administrative Practice for Rigging, 000.502.1000, Cranes and
Rigging Operations (Site-specific), and 000.653.3201, Cranes and Rigging
Introduction/Preuse.
Employees will be designated as machinery and equipment operators according to
Practices 000.653.3200, Motorized Heavy Equipment and Light Vehicles, and
000.653.3201.
Lifting equipment will be tagged and certified as detailed in Practice 000.653.3201.
Management of traffic in/around the project work areas will be done in accordance with
Practice 000.653.3211, Traffic management.

2.0

HAZARDS
The various hazards to employees involved with loading and unloading materials onto
vehicles for shipping include, but are not limited to, the following:

Poor or incorrect hazard identification

Manual handling
Operational machinery
Operator training
Vehicle safety
Communications
Load composition and characteristics
Weather conditions
Vehicle and employee interaction
Lifting equipment
Equipment and vehicle inspections
Defective vehicles and mobile equipment
Designated loading and unloading area
Vehicle speed

Health, Safety, and Environmental

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LOADING AND UNLOADING MATERIAL

3.0

JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS

All employees involved with loading and unloading material and equipment for any
facility will participate in and complete a Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Form
000.653.F0100. This will occur before any task commencing and will be reviewed by the
respective group/crew supervisor and HSE Representative.
In order for a JSA to be completed, the following documentation will be presented by the
shipping company:

Load composition: Describing load characteristics, individual material and

equipment weights (were applicable).
Shipping instructions.
Relevant dangerous goods and hazardous material certificates. This includes the
manufacturers material safety data sheet (MSDS) and other appropriate/associated
information, in accordance with Practice 000.653.2007, Hazard Communications.
Rigging and lifting point certification (such as lugs and chains tagged and
accompanied by certification) in accordance with Practice 000.653.3201.

After the documentation (see above) has been checked, a comprehensive JSA will be
undertaken.
This JSA will, as a minimum, involve the following employees:

Responsible supervisor
Equipment/crane/forklift operator
Riggers and doggers (as required)
Vehicle/truck operator/driver
Any other person involved with the unloading or loading of material and equipment

Once completed and reviewed by the group/crew supervisor, the JSA will be signed by all
employees and serve as the tasks work method/framework. The job steps outlined in the
JSA must be complied with at all times unless additional or other hazards become
evident. Should this occur, the JSA must be updated, reviewed, and resigned by all
employees.
The loading and unloading of materials will not progress unless all parties are sure of the
job plan and general work scope and have completed and signed the JSA.
4.0

MECHANICAL LIFTING DEVICES

Where ever practicable, mechanical lifting devices should be used for all material over
40 pounds (18.1 kilograms). Where appropriate, methods such as pallets, boxes, crates,
and containerization should be used. Compliance with this practice will remove or
significantly reduce the potential exposure to employee when conducting unloading or
loading material tasks.

Health, Safety, and Environmental

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LOADING AND UNLOADING MATERIAL

Individual employees should not do repetitive, frequent, or heavy lifting. Mechanical
lifting equipment will be made available for identified specific tasks as required.
Mechanical lifting devices include, but are not limited to, the following:

5.0

Trolleys
Hydraulic lifts
Forklifts
Cranes
Vehicle-mounted cranes and/or similarly mounted lifting arms

EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE INSPECTIONS

Vehicles, machinery, and equipment inspections will be conducted in accordance with
Practice 000.653.3200, including the tagout of defective equipment.
However, specialist vehicles may be required to deliver various loads of unusual size
and/or proportion of weight. Hence, where practicable, the intent of the vehicle
inspection form is to be complied with if not the actual content. To provide continuity
and consistency, vehicle, machinery, and equipment should, as a minimum, have the
following inspected and tested before use:

6.0

Operator vehicle interface (seatbelt, seats, mirrors, etc.)

Operational controls (brakes, gears, steering, etc.)
Vehicle safety equipment (seatbelts, fire extinguisher, flashing light, indicators, etc).

COMMUNICATIONS
Wherever possible, communications between parties will be either by clear, precise hand
signals or two-way radio. Two-way radio communication channels during loading and
unloading will be cleared as much as possible to verify that directions are not
misinterpreted. This will be achieved through the restriction of two-way radio channels
to designated tasks or assignment of dedicated channel.
The loading and unloading of materials is not to progress unless all parties are sure of the
job plan and general work scope and have completed and signed the JSA.

7.0

LOAD COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERISTICS

Where possible, loading and unloading of materials should occur at designated dispatch
and receivable points. To provide consistency and continuity throughout the duration of
the project, a standardized loading/shipping manifest will be used.

8.0

SHIPPING AGENT
The following requirements are to be expected by all transport and shipping agents for
transport of material and goods throughout all phases of the project:

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LOADING AND UNLOADING MATERIAL

9.0

Unit weight marked on units (individual and collective).

Load center of gravity to be marked on each unit.
Method of restraining load during transportation.
Decide on method of transport and unloading:
Flat racks (where approved lifting equipment is available)
Cradles (where approved lifting equipment is available)
Pallets
Crates
Boxes
Containers (where approved lifting equipment is available)
Strapping
Shrink-wrapping (boxes or pallets) making the small boxes into one unit
Pre-slings for loading and remain attached as part of the load. They are tied down
during transport and are later used to unload, thus eliminating the need for personnel
to work at height to attach or remove slings. Pre-slings should be inspected before a
lift.
Use of specialty transport options (such as tilt tray transport and container side
loader).
Verify that the method for unloading identified is compatible with the equipment for
unloading, which is at the unloading site.

RECEIVING CREW
The following requirements will be adopted by receiving crews on receipt of materials
and goods throughout all phases of the project:

Review manifest to check on weights of material and equipment.

Conduct JSA and gain agreement with all members of the crew receiving the goods
and responsible for unloading.
Verify that the method for unloading is compatible with the equipment for
unloading, which is at the receivable point.
Conduct pre-start inspection on machinery (such as forklifts and cranes).
Identify and control potential exposures to falls from heights in accordance with
Practice 000.653.3001, Fall Protection.
Attempt to remove all material to ground level before distribution (such as
containers removed from transport vehicles and placed at ground level before items
are removed).
Where necessary, conduct lift study under supervision and guidance of crane/lift
supervisor.
To assist with the unloading and loading of materials, it is suggested that the
shipping agent be contacted and enquiries made as to their equipment selection,
type, and methodology for loading and unloading.

Health, Safety, and Environmental

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Date 01Feb2010
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LOADING AND UNLOADING MATERIAL

10.0

VEHICLE AND PERSONNEL INTERACTION

Work on the site may have the potential to interface with the general public; extra
precautions are required to restrict access into the actual work area.
This will be achieved by the use of signage and the issuing of public information
bulletins to notify the public that beyond a designated location is a project work area and
access is restricted to project personnel and authorized contractors only.
Where appropriate, additional fencing, gates, barriers, warning signs, and personnel will
be used to control traffic flow.
Spotters and other people working in the vicinity of equipment will wear high-visibility
vests or clothing and use the correct signage at all times. Communications and hand
signals will also be standardized.

11.0

LIFTING POINTS
Equipment or material, which have designated lifting points, must be accompanied with
the correct certifications and testing documentation.
Materials with designated lifting points, which are not accompanied with the correct tags,
certification, and testing documentation must not be removed using the lifting points.
The requirements for certification and testing documentation will be applied to allpurpose built lifting equipment such as flat racks, containers, cradles, and bolsters.

12.0

LOADING/UNLOADING AREA
To conduct loading and unloading operations without interference from adjacent
activities, mobile machinery, equipment, and employees, a designated area will be
established where practical.
The designated area will be clearly marked and sign-posted as a restricted area. All
employees operating within the confines of this area must wear a high-visibility vest or
like clothing, which clearly delineates them from other employees.
Mobile equipment such as forklifts and lifting equipment will be designated for use
within the confines of this area and, therefore, be restricted to use within this area only.
This will significantly reduce the probability of unauthorized use of vehicles and mobile
equipment for tasks other than loading and unloading materials and equipment.
The designated areas will as a minimum have, but are not limited to having, the following
control mechanisms in place:

Delineated work areas Through the use of barrier tape.

Uni-directional roads Through the implementation of adequate signage and
designated employee training.

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Date 01Feb2010
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LOADING AND UNLOADING MATERIAL

Designated personnel Through recruitment, selection, and training only

authorized personnel will be allowed to enter the designated loading and unloading
area.
Specific personal protective equipment (PPE) Standard PPE requirements and
in addition a specific high-visibility vest.
Radios Designated radio frequency for those radios designated for use by crane
crews and other personnel within the restricted area.
Designated equipment This may include, forklifts, lifting equipment, and mobile
anchor points (for employees rigging and working at height).
Semi-permanent facilities This includes the use of scaffolding to create a number
of both stationary and mobile semi-permanent loading docks, access ways, and
working areas, with full handrails and anchor point system, for use with vehicles
such as transports and the like.

All of the above facilities, equipment, and safe work practices form the basis of a
restricted area where only authorized personnel are allowed. These personnel will be
trained in the systems and administrative controls used, as well as tested for competency
in the use of designated equipment such as cranes, forklifts, and EWPs.
13.0

REFERENCES
Document ID

Document Title

000.502.0100

Administrative Practice for Rigging (P2S)

000.502.1000

Cranes and Rigging Operations (Site-Specific) (P2S)

000.653.2007

Hazard Communications

000.653.3001

Fall Protection

000.653.3200

Motorized Heavy Equipment and Light Vehicles

000.653.3201

Cranes and Rigging

000.653.3211

Traffic Management

000.653.3305

Manual Handling

Forms:
000.653.F0100

Job Safety Analysis

Health, Safety, and Environmental