No NEW trailer is released from a #Tilly Authorise Dealership unless has a fixed body prop. No USED trailer passes a Tilly inspection unless it has a suitable prop available.
Information on the provision of support props with Agricultural Trailers
A recent HSE investigation discovered that the majority of agricultural trailer manufacturers believe that props for use during maintenance under a raised body of a tipping trailer are ‘optional extras’.
This belief, is not reflected in BS EN 1853:1999+A1:2009 ‘Agricultural machinery Trailers with tipping body Safety’ which states in section 4.7.1 A mechanical support hinged to the trailer, in conformity with the requirements given in 4.1.7.3 of prEN 1553:1998 shall be provided to secure the body in high position during maintenance operations.
prEN 1553:1998 became BS EN 1553:2000 ‘Agricultural machinery - Agricultural self-propelled mounted, semi- mounted and trailed machines - Common safety requirements’. In this standard section 4.1.7.3 states:
• To allow the operator to work under raised parts of the
machine when carrying out maintenance or servicing, mechanical supports or other locking devices shall be provided to prevent inadvertent lowering.
• Mechanical supporting devices shall withstand a load of 1.5 times the maximum load to be supported
• Hydraulic locking devices shall be located on the
hydraulic cylinder or connected to the hydraulic cylinder by pipes or located in the hoses leading to the hydraulic cylinder. In the latter case the hoses shall be designed to withstand a pressure of at least 4 times the working pressure
• The intervals for replacement of hoses shall be given in the instruction handbook.
• It shall be possible to control hydraulic locking devices and mechanical supports from outside the danger zones.
• Mechanical supports and hydraulic locking devices shall be marked by colour and shall clearly contrast with the machine. Supports shall be fixed on the machine when not in use.
• When the supports and hydraulic locks are controlled manually, their position and methods of operation shall
be marked on the machine.
• Specific instruction shall be contained in the instruction hand book.
BS EN 1553:2000 was superseded by BS EN ISO 4254 part 1:2005. In section 4.8.1 general it states;
4.8.1.1 When it is necessary for the operator to work under raised parts of the machine in order to carry out maintenance or service, mechanical supports or hydraulic locking devices shall be provided to prevent inadvertent lowering.
Means other than mechanical or hydraulic devices are acceptable, provided an equal or greater level of safety is ensured.
4.8.1.2 It shall be possible to control hydraulic locking devices and mechanical supports from outside the hazard zones.
4.8.1.3 Mechanical supports and hydraulic locking devices shall be identified by use of a colour that contrasts with the overall machine colour or by a safety sign located either on, or in close proximity to, the device.
4.8.1.4 When the supports or hydraulic devices are controlled manually, their method of operation shall be explained in the operator's manual [see 8.1.3 k)] and, if such operation is not intuitive, on the machine itself using either a safety or informational sign.
I can find no reference in any of the standards to say that the provision of a scotch or prop is an option for the manufacturer of tipping trailers. These are all harmonised standards, so meeting them is deemed to be compliant with the Supply of Machinery [Safety] regs. Failure to meet the standards or to provide a suitable alternative method must be considered non- compliance of the SMSr.
