Mixer Manufacturer Operating Manuals

While the importance of the mixer drum speed (RPM) when transporting concrete is questioned after our recent blog, A Triple Threat of Enforcement, it's often an overlooked, safety-critical requirement for drivers to have the drum only agitating during travel.

Advocating an increased drum RPM is the response to prevent spilling the concrete. Yet, it's not advocated by the mixer manufacturers via their operating instruction manual for the safe use of their mixer.

Drum speed revolutions can, and are often contributory factors in rollovers, with a reference in most manufacturers' operating instructions providing guidance.

Understanding the importance of the operating instructions shouldn't be underestimated; previous prosecutions from the associated quarrying and construction sectors have highlighted the importance of "operating in accordance with the operator manual".

British and European (BS/EN) standards are available for truck mixer safety requirements, with drum speed noted as part of the operator's training requirements.

Using this UK-designated standard as a reference allows for an understanding of the hazards encountered driving and operating a truck mixer and the level of risk reduction needed to avoid those hazards.

Other reasons to follow the operating manual and BS/EN standards allow companies to comply with safety legislation, as these can often be used against defendants where an accident occurs and they didn't use the manufacturer's guidance and instructions.

The instructions provided by manufacturers provide detailed insight into how the mixer should be used and maintained, helping to reduce the risks of accidents, dangerous situations, costly mistakes and even legal consequences.

Correct information can reduce the risk of mixer rollovers, injuries, or even fatalities. Ultimately, providing the correct information to drivers allows them to make informed decisions and take necessary precautions to prevent accidents.

Not following the manufacturer's instructions can also result in personal injury claims, breaches of health and safety regulations, and criminal charges.

Employers have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees, and failing to provide proper training on the use of the mixer or not following the manufacturer's instructions can be considered a breach of health and safety regulations. It can result in fines, legal action, and even imprisonment in severe cases.

Highlighted in the last blog, a driver's documented training provided by his employee gave direction to a spinning drum being key to a successful delivery and quoted, 

"As a general rule, a spinning drum assists in keeping the material within the drum."

"When driving with a wet mix, the drum should rotate at approximately 6 to 8 revolutions per minute."

As mentioned, training records are used as evidence when a fatality occurs in quarrying prosecutions.

Therefore, the driver's training record information could lead to a possible manslaughter charge, especially given that it's a commercially beneficial instruction rather than a safety one. 

It should also serve as a warning to anyone or any organisation providing erroneous information.

Mixer manufacturers provide the correct information, and warnings are displayed and should be followed in the operating manuals and aligned with BS/EN safety standards requirements for truck mixers.

Having been challenged to provide "evidence" of the manufacturer's requirements, changing a driver's mindset becomes more complicated when it's been accepted and encouraged for so long.

The effect on road safety, a load security offence and a recognised driver distraction are all consequences of increasing the drum RPMs during travel when loaded.

Changes in legislation, statutory guidance, or approved codes of practice have all been mentioned to understand better what needs to be done.

If we keep putting it down to driver error or behaviour, we'll never start to reduce the number of rollovers on UK roads; enforcement, prosecutions, and regulatory action will continue to shape the direction of our sector.

That includes providing training aligned with each manufacturer's operating instructions and current British and European standards and a message reinforced by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) , not general health and safety, quarry or construction-based training.

Award-winning training and a vocational qualification that comes with accreditation from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) , Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), EMPI Awards , and CLOCS are already available and delivered by industry experts in the UK and across Europe through Logico .

Furthermore, this specialist training and qualification has been designed for companies and organisations to deliver themselves, using suitably trained and competent staff.

We can't offer any more than that.