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Safety in the yard

22nd January 2004
Page 36
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Page 36, 22nd January 2004 — Safety in the yard
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Evidence shows that the humble haulage depot is a death trap. Pat

Hagan highlights 10 areas that will

yield safer working practices.

Depot-bound transport employees face a range of hazards that makes going to work a more dangerous proposition than being out on the road. Office staff who sit at a computer screen can develop back problems, while workers using hazardous chemicals can develop skin and chest ailments.

But by far the greatest dangers lie in the transport yard itself, primarily from vehicles that are either stationary or moving. Each year about 100 people die in depots after being hit or crushed by a moving vehicle,falling from one or being hit by a falling load.

No less than 5,000 people a year need at least three days off work because of injuries involving vehicles in the workplace, and nearly 2,500 suffer a major injury that needs more time off sick.

These dangers are not new but despite previous attempts to improve safety there has been no significant decline in deaths and injuries. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says haulage has a higher rate of employee accident than construction or agriculture.

However, some industry experts say attitudes are changing. Vision Techniques, a Blackburn-based firm which supplies and fits reversing camera systems. believes operators particularly the larger ones, are realising that investing in safety now could protect against severe financial penalties later.That is certainly a wise thing to do because employers who fail to protect their staff and the public from harm face fines of up to £20,000— and, if a case goes to court, they could be jailed.

"Historically our clients have always been quarry firms and municipal companies," says Vision Techniques' spokesman Andrew Kendal. -But in the past two years we've taken on board some very high-profile transport companies."

1. Employers' responsibilities The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is backed up by a range of regulations on the management of safety, the use ol equipment, and lifting operations. Employers are legally bound to provide and maintain safe systems of work and take all reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of workers in the workplace —and of members of the public who might be affected by their activities.

2. Risk assessment First, you have to find out what the main risks are. This should identify what the main transport hazards are, who is most likely to get hurt, how likely it is that an accident could happen and what measures are needed to prevent it happening Then you should record your findings id regularly review the risk assessment to ake sure it's still current.

• Driver training

rivers should be offered training on safety in the orkplace. Health and safety experts say particur attention should be paid to younger,less expeenced drivers, but all drivers should be taught e layout of the workplace,speed limits, where to ark or load and how to report accidents

• Fork-lift safety

very year there are about 8,000 accidents in le UK involving fork-lift trucks.The HSE says osses must select and train the right candiates as operators.They must have good vision nd hearing, and if they are taking prescription rugs, these must not affect their operating bility. They also need proper supervision 41 handling and safety. Fork-lifts must avoid reas where they could overturn, such as sharp ends, damaged surfaces and speed bumps. )frectional and speed-limit signs should be put ip in areas where fork-lifts are working.

i. Reversing vehicles

dearly 25% of all deaths involving vehicles at vork happen when a truck is reversing. Miniaise the need for reversing as much as possible nd paint demarcation lines, or even put up iarriers, in areas where reversing takes place. kdditional mirrors on vehicles could help. Is will reversing alarms and a system to alert he driver if there is an obstacle. Rear-facing ameras can also improve safety.

i. Loading

'ailing goods are a real danger. Ensure the oading area is flat and firm with no overhead !lectric cables. Vehicles should be braked or stabilised before unloading begins and checks must be made to ensure the load has not moved and could collapse when the doors are opened.

7. Protect visitors

You have a duty to protect drivers working for contractors or suhcon tractors. That means providing contractors with details of safety measures, such as workplace layout, routes to be used and the types of vehicles and equipment on site. The HSE says it is essential to liaise with employers of visiting drivers so they know what policies you have to ensure safety.

8 Sheeting

The risk of falling goods during roping am sheeting is significant. The obvious remedy to avoid the need for sheeting. If it's unavoid able you might consider a mechanical sheetim system which enables the load to be sheeted unsheeted from ground level using mechanica aids such as a crank handle. If manual sheetim really is the only option it might be possibli to provide a platform that does away with th need to climb on the load.

9. Who's responsible?

Appoint a named individual to oversee yan safety. It need not be a health-and-safet specialist, just someone who understands th risks in your business. Get him or her to drav up a plan setting out what needs to be done an review it regularly to make sure procedure actually work.

10. Penalties

The USE and local authorities are ernpowerel to take action against firms which have Mad equate safety controls. Fines of up to £20.00 can be imposed for breaches of the Healt] and Safety at Work Act. If a case goes to cour bosses could end up in j ail if it is found that thei acts or omissions led to an offence. •

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Locations: Blackburn

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