The FORS Standard version 7.1

Requirement

To conduct specialist operations safely and in accordance with the law.

Purpose

To ensure that the risks associated with specialist operations are managed so that they do not endanger the driver, any passengers or other road users.

Demonstration

FORS Operators shall have in place a policy and supporting procedures for any specialist operations. Procedures shall be supported by risk assessments or method statements. Specialist operations include, but are not limited to:

• Dangerous goods
• Hazardous and non-hazardous wasteb (upper-tier)
• Abnormal indivisible loads (AIL)
• Longer semi-trailers (LSTs)

The person with continuous and effective responsibility for the specialist operation shall be formally appointed, trained, experienced and, where necessary, qualified.

This should be relevant to the specialism of the operation such as:

• Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA)
• Waste carrier competence
• Special Types General Order (STGO) competence

For the carriage of dangerous goods, a procedure shall be in place and include:

• Dangerous goods vehicle approval certification
• Control measures relevant to the transportation of dangerous goods
• Dangerous goods documentation, consignment notes and data sheets
• Driver training and ADR (International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) certificates
• Emergency actions and contact details

For upper-tier hazardous and non-hazardous waste, a procedure shall be in place that includes:

• Waste carrier licensing
• Control measures relevant to the transportation of waste
• Waste documentation, consignment notes and data sheets
• Waste operations and driver competence
• Emergency actions and contact details

For abnormal indivisible loads (AIL), a procedure shall be in place for vehicles operating under the conditions of STGO or vehicle special order movements that includes:

• Notifying the police and the relevant highway and bridge authorities where required
• Compliance with all movement conditions relevant to the weight and dimensions of the vehicle and load
• The carriage of the vehicle movement approval with the load documentation
• The use of marker boards for over-width and over-length projections
• STGO and abnormal indivisible load (AIL) driver competence

For Longer Semi Trailers (LST), formal notification to operate LSTs shall be evidenced. A procedure shall be in place that includes:

• Suitable and sufficient assessment of specified risk factors
• Planning and documenting routes, and communicating them to drivers
• Monitoring and investigating route diversions
• Driver training requirements and competence
• Adequate and consistent monitoring of the operation and record keeping