Safe Caravan Siting

Special ReportSpecial Report

The Safer Caravan Siting ques-tionnaire we recently sent to Caravan Parks has produced

a wealth of responses from park own-ers and managers all over the country. There is obviously deep concern within the industry about the best methods for doing this tricky, and potentially dan-gerous operation, and the opportunity to share experiences was welcomed.

Park owners were very forthcoming with their own tips on how they do their siting. Interestingly, there was a good deal of similarity in the problems experi-enced, and in the advice offered.

The biggest problem by far is when parks have neglected to use adequate ground protection. Plywood boards are prone to splitting without warning, and become heavy and slippery when wet. In fact, wheels slipping off the edge of plywood boards or metal skids was one of the main causes of caravans getting stuck up to their axles in mud.

Another frequent problem is tyre blow-outs, and several responders advised checking that they are correctly inflated, or even changing to new wheels when moving.

Overall, the repeated message that came through loud and clear was: Plan the operation carefully, mark out your route, make sure everyone knows what they are doing and who is giving instruc-tions, use proper equipment, follow the NCC “Good Practice” guide, don’t rush, and don’t take chances.

When you look at it, all of these things are such common sense that one could wonder why they are so often overlooked. Is taking a short cut to “save time”, or skimping on proper equipment really worth the risk of a serious accident? Even if no one does get injured, who wants to spend a whole day jacking out a sunk car-avan? With careful planning and proper equipment these risks can be minimised, or eliminated all together.

Park owners speak out about safe caravan siting

Using the correct equipment makes siting vastly safer and easier.

The value of proper training

The tragic accident in 2006 when a worker was killed whilst siting a caravan, raised the whole issue

of safety to a much higher profile. In recent years more and more parks have recognised the value of having their staff professionally trained in safety awareness and siting techniques.

The first and most basic step is to obtain copies of the NCC and BH&HPA’s “Guidelines of Good Practice for the Transportation, Movement, Siting, De-siting and Commissioning of Single Unit Caravan Holiday Homes Incorporating Guidelines for Maintenance”. These are only £6.00 for five copies (£15.00 for non members) and should be essential reading for all involved in these activities.

However, there is nothing like proper training and there are several organisa-tion listed below that provide dedicated courses, either at their premises or yours, to suit your particular requirements. Two of them, Tadco and Leisuresafe, have kindly offered our readers the free use of their own Risk Assessment documents and copies are available by simply emailing them below.

Training ProvidersCiTo Tel: 01252 796 085 www.cito.org.uk

Leisuresafe Tel: 0844 55 55 468 www.leisuresafe.com

TadCo Tel: 01458 447 288 Email: mark@tadco.co.uk

“Guidelines of Good Pratise” available from NCC. Tel: 01252 796 060

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Worst Experience:

“Old plywood sheets heavy when wet and wheels pushing through rotten boards.”

STafforDSHIre

Worst Experience:

“Using plywood boards when damp, cara-van slips off or breaks it and goes through.”

Best Tip:

“Mark where wheels will be – don’t rush – don’t have more than one organising.”

YorkSHIre

Worst Experience:

“The plywood moving then the van sinks into the ground! Not anymore! We have the Ground-Guards.”

Best Tip:

“If you rush, you cut corners, then it is a long job digging the van out. You need a minimum of three people. One on the tractor and two watching both sides. Talk about the way it’s going on or off. Is it best to pull or push the van? Most of all, slowly does it. We have level ground, if not, make it level. If you go on a slope, it may slip as you push.”

LaNCaSHIre

Worst Experience:

“A large static came off metal sheets and sank up to the axle (we then purchased a set of Ground-Guards!)”

aNGLeSY

Worst Experience:

“Old aluminium skids splitting.”DorSeT

Worst Experience:

“Using sand skids (metal) van slips off skids and sinks up to axle; van then had to be jacked on unstable ground.”

Best Tip:

“Use 8’ x 2’ Ground-Guards.”WeST SUSSex

Worst Experience:

“Caravans sinking into soft ground, and breaking of ply sheets.”

STafforDSHIre

Worst Experience:

“Axle buried in mud – Took all day to jack the van up and get back on hard ground.”

Best Tip:

“Use Ground-Guards. We have 20 8’ x 4’ boards. We use them all the time.”

LaNCaSHIre

Best Tip:

“Always try and use Ground-Guards. Even upon gravel ground wheels can sink into soft drains.”

arGYLL

Worst Experience:

“Sunk in grass when we decided not to use the Ground-Guards.”

Best Tip:

“Always use Ground-Guards when mov-ing vans/lodges over anything that’s not concrete, tarmac or hard standing.”

CoNWY

Worst Experience:

“Caravan sank through tarmac road way.”

CUMbrIa

Worst Experience:

“Going over cast manhole lid which broke, allowing wheel to go down man hole to axle.”

SoMerSeT

Worst Experience:

“Caravans getting bogged down in wet weather.”

Best Tip:

“Definitely use Ground-Guards.”GWYNeDD

Worst Experience:

“Aborting a crane lift due to soft ground.”

DorSeT

Worst Experience:

“Caravan sinking into the ground”

Best Tip:

“Use Ground-Guards – it’s much easier.”HereforDSHIre

Worst Experience:

“Becoming detached from towing vehicle when going up a hill”

Best Tip:

“Thoroughly assess all eventualities before starting.” WorCeSTerSHIre

(oWNer of 85 GroUND-GUarDS)

Best Tip:

“Wear bump caps not hard hats, beware of oversized protective clothing - ill fitting waterproofs, and always beware of the man who says ‘I have been doing this for 20 years’. He might well have been doing it wrong !!”

CaravaN SITING CoNSULTaNT, SoMerSeT

Best Tip:

“Mark out the exact position of the unit with line marking paint.”

PerTHSHIre

Best Tip:

“Discuss what you intend to do before hand and physically walk the route to be taken, to check for snags.”

LaNCaSHIre

Best Tip:

“If you hit problems after 3:00pm leave it and start again tomorrow.”

WorCeSTerSHIre

Best Tip:

“Good communication with the driver, and mark the caravan left and right so no confusion.” PeMbrokeSHIre

Best Tip:

“Radio control to all staff on siting duty.” keNT

Best Tip:

“A good driver, cool head, prepare route well, take time, pay attention at all times.”

PeMbrokeSHIre

Best Tip:

“Make sure everyone knows their indi-vidual role, and listen to the banksman.”

HaMPSHIre

Best Tip:

“Never look for shortcuts, always take your time, never rush the job.” CorNWaLL

Worst Experience:

“Using plywood, they split and caravan sank down to axles.” DevoN

Worst Experience:

“Sinking in mud when the plywood sheets were used.”

Best Tip:

“Use Ground-Guards, much safer and less mess.” CarMarTHeNSHIre

Worst Experience:

“Using plywood on wet ground, plywood split, caravan wheel sank in mud and bent axle on new caravan. (We then bought Ground-Guards!).”

Best Tip:

“Use Ground-Guards, and don’t hurry.”

SWaNSea

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MEtAL SKIDSMEtAL SKIDS

Plywood becomes very heavy when wet, but Ground-Guards are easily manageable by two people.

Siting twin unit homes calls for the greatest degree of care and planning.

tYREStYRESWorst Experience:

“Tyre exploding when van was lowered onto it’s wheels.”

LINCoLNSHIre

Worst Experience:

“Blowing a tyre up on caravan and the rim blew off into my face.”

Best Tip:

“Put on a set of new wheels – you can always swap then back after the move.”

LINCoLNSHIre

Best Tip:

“Caravan tyres correctly inflated.”

HaMPSHIre

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“Tyre blowouts have caused very seri-ous accidents and your boards are brilliant at preventing these. We train the guys to put a board against the caravan when inflating the tyre to pre-vent being hit if the wheel separates.”

Caravan Siting Trainer

Special ReportSpecial Report Safe Caravan Siting

Ground-Guards Ltd

Rudgate | Walton Leeds LS23 7AU, UK

Tel: 0113 267 7000

Fax: 0113 267 2222

Email: sales@ground-guards.co.uk

www.ground-guards.co.uk

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JACKINGJACKING

MANOEUVRINGMANOEUVRING

Best Tip:

“Always ensure legs on van are down when blocking up axles.” COR NW ALL

Best Tip:

“Always block as jacking up. Never leave unit unsecured by chain or strap to tractor etc until fully level and numerous supports are in place.”

WE ST M IDL ANDS

Best Tip:

.elxa fo edis rehtie skcaj owt esu syawlA“Keep bodies away from unit when jacking.”

DOR SET

Worst Experience:

“Slipped o� jacks when levelling.”

Best Tip:

“Take all precautions to have utilities at side of pitch to reduce sta� going under caravan...” L INC OLNSHI RE

Best Tip:

“Caravan easier to manoeuvre on to pitch attached to ball-hitch on JCB back-actor.”

GWYN EDD

Best Tip:

.rotcart fo tnorf htiw elibom hsuP“Ground-Guards transforms operation.”

BR IST OL

Worst Experience:

“Siting on slopes.”

Best Tip:

“Use Ground-Guards!” NORFO L K

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“For extra stability, wherever possible keep the towing vehicle connected to the caravan whilst jacking the caravan. Never go under the main longitudinal chassis beam without primary supports in place either side of the caravan axle on both sides. Make sure your jacks receive a thorough examination every twelve months.”

Caravan Siting Trainer

“Always use a safety chain or strop between the towing vehicle and caravan when manoeuvring. Do not use a winch unless properly trained.”

Caravan Siting Trainer

Note: These tips are provided by individuals based on their own experience in their own cir-cumstances, and are not prescriptive. They do not necessarily represent the views of the organisations mentioned in this Report.

Best Tip:

“Never be afraid to disconnect the tractor and spin the caravan to get a better angle.”

C L EVE L AND

Best Tip:

“Landover with front tow balls and winch.”

D UND EE

Ground-GuardsTM