PAS 43:2010

PAS 43Safe working of vehicle breakdown, recovery and removal operations. Management system specification

Vehicles that are incapacitated due to a breakdown or accident carry a high risk of causing danger to their occupants and other road users and are a potential cause of traffic congestion. The rapid and unhindered attendance of a competent road recovery operator is a means of reducing these risks.

In order to meet legislation, standards and best practice and in the best interests of the public, there is a need to promote standards of safe working amongst road recovery operators.

Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 43 contains requirements for the management of road recovery operators with the aim of improving health and safety and promoting best practice. Pas 43 lays out the minimum standards that can be used to give vital assurance both inside and outside this industry sector.

The SURVIVE Report* examines the risks to those who work on the hard shoulders of motorways and high-speed dual carriageways. It makes recommendations for working practices, vehicle conspicuity, lighting and hard shoulder access.

The establishment of documents such as PAS 43 is regarded by the authors of The SURVIVE Report as the most effective means of implementing its recommendations for road recovery operators. The relationship between the recommendations of The SURVIVE Report and the requirements and recommendations of PAS 43 is illustrated in this document.

This Publicly Available Specification (PAS) specifies a management system for road recovery operators. The requirements contained within it are intended to secure the health and safety of road recovery operator technicians and road users. It promotes best practice procedures for:

• Attending vehicle breakdowns at the roadside
• The recovery and/or removal of vehicles from the roadside
• Other aspects of vehicle breakdown, recovery and removal

It specifies the requirements for:

• The type, maintenance and safety marking of road recovery vehicles and their equipment
• The training and behaviour of road recovery technicians
• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by road recovery technicians
• The maintenance and organization of road recovery operators’ premises
• The effective implementation and maintenance of standard operating procedures

• Scope
• Normative references
• Terms and definitions
• Vehicles
• Vehicle equipment
• Personal safety or protective equipment and clothing
• Premises
• Technicians
• Standard operating procedures
• Guidance on best practice for vehicle conspicuity
• Vehicle equipment
• Training and health and safety for vehicle recovery operatives and technicians
• Customer service
• The Disability Discrimination Act
• Carrying or moving infants or children in road recovery vehicles
• Bibliography
• Table showing the relationship between the recommendations of The SURVIVE Report and the requirements and recommendations of PAS 43
• Table showing equipment to be carried on breakdown vehicles
• Table showing equipment to be carried on recovery/removal vehicles
• Induction programme
• Light vehicle recovery operator
• Motorcycle recovery operator
• Heavy vehicle recovery operator
• Minimum compatible qualifications for technicians to operate recovery equipment

* SURVIVE is a partnership between the Government, the Police Service, motoring services organizations and the motoring industry. SURVIVE aims to improve the safety of road recovery operators’ employees and customers in breakdown, recovery and removal situations.

The requirements within PAS 43 were agreed by the major organizations within the breakdown and recovery industry. The following organizations have contributed to the development of PAS 43 directly or through their involvement with SURVIVE.

This Publicly Available Specification (PAS), PAS 43, was developed by SURVIVE in collaboration with the British Standards Institution (BSI).

• AA
• Association of British Certification Bodies (ABCB)
• Association of British Insurers (ABI)/Norwich Union
• Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
• Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators (AVRO)
• AXA Assistance UK Limited
• Britannia Rescue
• Europe-Assistance Holdings Limited
• Green Flag
• Habilis Health and Safety Solutions Limited
• Highways Agency
• Institute of Vehicle Recovery (IVR)
• Mondial Assistance
• National Tyre Distributors Association
• RAC Motoring Services
• REACT
• Recovery Equipment Manufacturers and Suppliers Association (REMSA)
• Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF)
• Road Haulage Association – Rescue Recovery Group
• The Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders Limited (SMMT).

Valued advice and support has also been received from UKAS, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), Transport Scotland, Transport Wales, and various Government agencies. BSI Technical Committee MHE/3, Cranes and derricks, and Subcommittee MHE/3/14, Vehicle recovery cranes and equipment, were also consulted during the revision of PAS 43.

Attention is drawn to BS 7121, which covers the safe use of recovery vehicles and equipment. Attention is also drawn to BS 7901, which contains specifications for recovery vehicles and vehicle recovery equipment, and which all recovery vehicles manufactured from January 2004 should comply with.