Health & Safety series
Page 20
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MAJOR new legislation designed to safeguard the safety and health of people at work became law in 1974. The Health and Safety Commission which administers the Act was set up last October and from April 1 1975 employers have had a general duty to ensure the health safety and welfare of their employees on the job and to consult with them to devise joint arrangements on safety and health matters.
What do accidents at work cost the road transport industry? Reported accidents involving over three days absence from work increased in road transport from 16,200 to 33,800 between 1961 and 1970. Accidents in docks and warehouses also increased in this period. Yet In the civil aviation in dustry reported that accidents over the same period fell from 30 to 15.
At a conservative estimate, days lost through accidents at work add up to over 100,000 man-days a year in road transport. If only a quarter of accidents affect drivers of the largest vehicles the loss of revenue to the industry could total well over one million pounds a year. Can we afford this? Can it be prevented?
John Darker, CM's management writer, has looked into this important legislation to assess its significance for road transport. The first of a new illustrated series of articles outlining the new law and what is now required of employers and employees will be published next week.