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Switching off engine when driver leaves vehicle

by Murdo Maguire — last modified 2007-02-07 06:32

I am a refuse driver for my local council and they have just brought in a rule that no driver is permitted too get out of their lorry to help load refuse into the back of the truck without turning the engine off first. Is there a law that states this or are they making iit up ?

It's not a specific offence but it is advisable and may place workers at risk (including you). They are open to liability claims if, for example, equipment or motion activated as might happen through vibration or a defect and it seems a perfectly sensible rule to introduce on health and safety grounds.

Certainly a vehicle should not be left unattended with the engine running and most insurers would regard leaving a vehicle in such a state as negligent on the part of the driver and insurance claims may well leave open a contributory negligence defence.

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