HSE probes accidents
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FACTORS that can reduce the number of accidents in the road transport industries are highlighted in the Health and Safety Executive 1978 report devoted to manufacturing and service industries.
The HSE calls for a conscious effort by everyone, backed up by: • Adequate training; • Strict supervision; • Adherence to safe working procedures; Greater attention, says the report, should also be given to the design of vehicles, particularly visibility, and the routeing of vehicles through factories.
The report delves into three particular cases of transport accidents — at a refuse tip; in garage premises; and in the use of forklifts.
The driver of a refuse disposal vehicle was killed when he was trapped at the rear of the vehicle after it had been emptied at a tip. In order to clean the trays after tipping, a large hopper had to be raised by hydraulic power actuated by a lever in the driver's cab. The team of men consisted of two loaders and the driver.
When the two loaders had cleaned the trays, they returned to the cab and one of them actuated the lever to lower the hopper which then formed a severe trapping point at the rear of the vehicle; the driver was crushed between the descending hopper and the vehicle.
It was impossible to see the trapping point at the rear of the lorry from the lever-operating position within the cab, and the local authority operating the lorry did not have a system of work that was sufficiently clear to compensate for this design defect.
As a result of this accident the council was fined £300. prosecuted and The defective design was discussed with the manufacturer and an amended control arrangement suggested which would enable the person operating the hopper to see the trapping position.
In the case of the garage a storeman was dipping underground tanks to check fuel levels. Access to the dip hatch was via manhole covers. While he was bending down to dip a tank, a car driven by a fellow employee reversed into him. Fortunately the storeman suffered only slight head wounds.
Since then, dipping tanks has been made a two-man operation, with the second person acting as a lookout.
An investigation into an accident that occurred on a forklift truck established that supervision and training was very poor. An improvement notice was served on the company requiring it to institute a system of training, supervision and authorisation for forklift truck drivers.