Be safe on site and be safe on the road - that was the message from safety specialists speaking at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) Road Transport conference.

During the last three years, 14 people have been killed and more than 2,000 people have been injured by cargo falling from vehicles when they are being loaded or unloaded.

Safety specialists from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told delegates that accidents and injuries could be avoided if sensible precautions were being followed.

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The conference's keynote speaker, Marcia Davies, HSE's Head of Injury Reduction, said: "Vehicles which are loaded safely for the road can usually be safely unloaded at the workplace - and vice versa. An estimated 2500 manual handling injuries, falls from heights and accidents caused by falling objects result from poorly restrained loads shifting in transit.

"Shifted loads increase the likelihood of accidents taking place - whether they happen on site or on the road - and can put both motorists and loading staff at risk. Properly restraining loads is an important part of transport safety.

"HSE will be working closely with the Vehicle Services Operators Agency, the Highways Agency and the police to take forward the issue of workplace transport safety."

(CD/JM)