A truck got stuck in soft sand while traveling on a graded road. An attempt was made to recover the truck by attaching chains from the stuck truck to a tanker, but the chain hook came loose and smashed into the cab of the stuck truck. The incident highlights the importance of using the proper towing equipment for the vehicle and load being recovered. Chains are not suitable for recovering heavy trucks and can snap under heavy loads. Towing equipment must be rated for the weight of the vehicle and hooked up securely without the risk of it coming loose.

1. Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others
1Csm15 jun 03
Vehicle TowingVehicle Towing
IncidentIncident
A briefing pack for drivers and supervisorsA briefing pack for drivers and supervisors
on the Hazards involved in attempting toon the Hazards involved in attempting to
recover and tow stuck vehiclesrecover and tow stuck vehicles..
Learning points from the incidentLearning points from the incident

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Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others
A truck got stuck in soft sand beside aA truck got stuck in soft sand beside a
graded road.graded road.
Vehicle Towing IncidentVehicle Towing Incident
WHAT HAPPENED?WHAT HAPPENED?
•A decision was made to recover the truck byA decision was made to recover the truck by
fixing chains to a tanker and tow it free .fixing chains to a tanker and tow it free .
•The chain hook came loose and smashed intoThe chain hook came loose and smashed into
the cab of the stuck truck.the cab of the stuck truck.

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Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others
Failure to use the correct towing equipmentFailure to use the correct towing equipment
Using chains-- not advised for heavy trucks.Using chains-- not advised for heavy trucks.
The hook was hooked back onto its own chainThe hook was hooked back onto its own chain
and slipped off - released.and slipped off - released.
Vehicle Towing IncidentVehicle Towing Incident
Causes:Causes:
Injuries:Injuries: NONE but look how close the driversNONE but look how close the drivers
head is to the broken windscreen and damagedhead is to the broken windscreen and damaged
cab!! A fatality occurred in SPDC-Nigeria incab!! A fatality occurred in SPDC-Nigeria in
similar circumstances.similar circumstances.

4. Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others
4Csm15 jun 03
Graded Road
Never use chains to tow vehicles unless correctlyNever use chains to tow vehicles unless correctly
secured to secured points on the vehicles. NEVERsecured to secured points on the vehicles. NEVER
HOOK THE CHAIN BACK ON ITSELF.HOOK THE CHAIN BACK ON ITSELF.
Assess, and use suitable tow equipment forAssess, and use suitable tow equipment for
recovery of heavy vehicles -recovery of heavy vehicles - solid tow barssolid tow bars preferred,preferred,
use heavy winch lines to reach if ground is too soft.use heavy winch lines to reach if ground is too soft.
Towing equipment is rated according to theTowing equipment is rated according to the
maximum weight of the towed vehicle that can bemaximum weight of the towed vehicle that can be
towed.towed.

5. Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others
5Csm15 jun 03
To determine what type of tow equipment you need,To determine what type of tow equipment you need,
you must know the loaded weight of the vehicle youyou must know the loaded weight of the vehicle you
are going to toware going to tow !!
Use correct towing equipment that is strong enoughUse correct towing equipment that is strong enough
to overcome the initial resistance and tow the weightto overcome the initial resistance and tow the weight
of the stuck vehicle.of the stuck vehicle.
A ½ inch chain has a SWL of approx 4 tonnes only-A ½ inch chain has a SWL of approx 4 tonnes only-
and breaking point of 12 tonnes. Not strong enough forand breaking point of 12 tonnes. Not strong enough for
large trucks!!-especially loaded!large trucks!!-especially loaded!
Chains do not absorb abrupt tension or shock loadingChains do not absorb abrupt tension or shock loading
and can snap.and can snap.

6. Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others
6Csm15 jun 03
TowingTowing
Learning points:Learning points:
ForFor heavy trucks/tankersheavy trucks/tankers use either a solid tow bar,use either a solid tow bar,
or if a longer distance is required to avoid softor if a longer distance is required to avoid soft
ground, use a winch line truck – NOT chains.ground, use a winch line truck – NOT chains.
If towing out aIf towing out a light vehiclelight vehicle use approved tow beltsuse approved tow belts
or chains which are securely fixed-never place theor chains which are securely fixed-never place the
hook back on the chain.hook back on the chain.
If you are unsure of how to carry out the tow safely-If you are unsure of how to carry out the tow safely-
DO NOT ATTEMPT IT-DO NOT ATTEMPT IT- get competent help.get competent help.
When a tow is in progress ensure everybody is wellWhen a tow is in progress ensure everybody is well
clear of the area-if not -clear of the area-if not -STOP the WORKSTOP the WORK..

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Applying Safety Rules can save your life and the lives of others
The EndThe End
TOWING SAFELYTOWING SAFELY