Concrete mixer rollovers: Interpreting your responsibilities

With 28 mixer rollovers in 2023, driver competence, industry responsibilities, and regulatory expectations are all in the spotlight. A proactive approach, with an emphasis on road safety, and a transformative mindset for effective self-regulation are needed, argues Mark Cowan, director, DEK Group NE.

As another new year begins, one of the questions continually asked is about the number of mixer rollovers in the UK.

2023 reported 28 mixer rollovers across our roads, with more on sites up and down the country.

Although the exact figures are unknown, these incidents again highlight the importance of driver training and competence for these specialised vehicles.

With January now over, the factually correct, yet unreported number of mixer rollovers currently sits at two.

It's not the start to 2024 we wanted.

While many observers from outside our sector were shocked at the number of mixer rollovers we suffered, there's an even bigger shock when learning that this has been allowed to continue for years.

We are often asked about the competence of drivers and why it should matter as long as the driver has an HGV license and a current Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC).

Both are legal requirements, but does that satisfy? Has that reduced the number of mixer rollovers?

In short, the answer is no, and why do we continue seeing so many incidents?

In a recent training course, when talking about the responsibilities of vehicle operators and transport managers, we were quizzed on our 'interpretation' of training and competence, referenced in legislation and guidance documents.

The duties of the transport manager are set out clearly in the Senior Traffic Commissioners Statutory Guidance and Statutory Documents.

"Drivers are adequately trained and competent to operate all relevant vehicles and equipment" doesn't leave much room for interpretation.

The recently updated load security code of practice from the DVSA and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) replaced all previously published guidance. It was updated to assist vehicle operators, drivers, and consignors in following the law. 

"Driven by people who are qualified, trained, and competent" is a legal requirement. 

It was pointed out that while drivers might have the desired minimum competencies, "the competence to operate all relevant vehicles and equipment" can't be demonstrated by attending a DCPC course.

The Concrete Operational Standards from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) provide detailed guidelines on the experience, continuous professional development, and competence required for transport managers or responsible persons (RPs) in the sector. These guidelines are also covered in the Traffic Commissioners documents.

In addition, the transport manager or R, for those running on a restricted license, is expected to proactively address sector-specific issues such as mixer rollovers, weight issues, site wash-off, load security, and the additional maintenance requirements set out by the mixer manufacturers.

It is essential they have a thorough understanding of these issues and take necessary measures to deal with them.

Dealing with these sector-specific issues has yet to be done proactively, as demonstrated by the 28 mixer rollovers last year and the many drum detachment and maintenance problems encountered, leaving many asking why.

It still needs to be determined whether the responsibility of mandating appropriate training and competence in line with the rest of the sector lies with the industry or whether it is the job of the regulators to start implementing and enforcing these.

Providing drivers with the proper guidance and information is one of the most significant challenges, but unfortunately, we can't do that right.

To maintain self-regulation, we must evolve and modify our approach rather than repeating the same mistakes repeatedly.

The recent Brake Road Safety Week in the transport sector focused on raising awareness about speed.

Speeding is a significant contributing factor in many mixer rollovers. However, it's about more than breaking the speed limit but rather driving too fast for the conditions when driving a specialist vehicle.

Apart from speeding, other major factors contributing to rollovers are inexperience and complacency. Therefore, providing proper training and allowing drivers to demonstrate competence is crucial.

This will significantly improve road safety and enhance our sector's image.

We need to be proactive.