University vehicles, use and safety

Health and Safety

Use and safety of University vehicles

This section deals with the requirements for drivers, booking and management of vehicles to ensure they are safe to use. See also Driving on University Business Policy HSP - 04 for further direction.

General safety check information for drivers and managers

Drivers must be familiar with the safety information below before driving a University owned vehicle.

Annex F - Daily Running Checks

Drivers are responsible for checking the following on a daily basis before commencing their journeys:

• Lights (all working)
• Brakes (working)
• Warning Instruments
• Windscreen washers and wipers (functioning properly)
• Side mirrors are correctly adjusted
• Oil (up to the correct mark on the dip stick)
• Water (up to the correct mark)
• Fuel (Sufficient for the journey)
• Tyres (tread and inflation pressures)

Annex H - Gross Vehicle Weights

The loaded weight of the vehicles must not exceed the gross vehicle weight. These are as follows:

Polhill Based Vehicles

• Long Wheel Base Minibus each (two) 4100kg

Luton Based Vehicles

• Luton Box Van 5,500Kg (fully laden) 3,500Kg (unladen)
• Vauxhall Arena Van 3,305Kg (fully laden) 2,205Kg (unladen)
• Peugeot Expert 3,305Kg (fully laden) 2,205 (unladen)

University Hall (Luton)

• Vauxhall Combo SE 1.7D 1,670Kg
• Citroen Dispatch 815D Enterprise 2,205Kg

Annex I - Passenger Rules

Passengers must not:

• Unnecessarily obstruct any entrance, exit or gangway
• Unnecessarily obstruct the driver or take his attention away from controlling the vehicle

Annex K - Equipment that must be carried on small buses operated under the permit scheme

The following items of equipment must be carried on small buses operated under the permit scheme:

Fire extinguisher

• At least one fire extinguisher which complies in all respects with the specifications for portable fire extinguishers issued by the British Standards Institution, numbered BS5423: 1977 or BS 5423: 1980 or BS5423: 1987 and which:-
• Has a minimum test rating of 8A or 21B and
• contains water or foam and is marked to indicate it contains, halon 1301, or halon 1211.

First Aid Box

• A suitable, clearly marked, first Aid box which is readily available for use and kept in good condition.

The following items must be kept in it in good condition:

• Ten antiseptic wipes, foil packed
• One conforming disposable bandage (not less than 7.5 cm wide)
• Two triangular bandages
• One packet of 24 assorted adhesive dressings
• Three large sterile un-medicated ambulance dressings (not less than 15.0 cm x twenty cm)
• Two sterile eye pads, with attachments
• Twelve assorted safety pins
• One pair rustproof blunt-ended scissors

Annex L - Six Weekly Vehicle Safety Inspections

The following are to be inspected at the six weekly vehicle safety inspections.

• Wheels (If necessary tighten nuts)
• Tyres
• Brakes
• Steering
• Suspension
• Lighting
• Window wiper and washers
• Specialist Equipment, such as tail lifts/hoists (where applicable)

These are to be recorded on the vehicle spreadsheet.