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Audit plaudits

29th June 1989, Page 118
29th June 1989
Page 118
Page 118, 29th June 1989 — Audit plaudits
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The FTA's workshop audit safety service is an impressive scheme, writes John Durant, that can do much else besides improve safety

• The Freight Transport Association workshop safety audit service, started this year, is a forward-looking scheme; if it's taken up progressively by operators in large numbers it will do much to improve workshop and safety, while it can hardly fail to help to improve the image of their fleets.

Once an operator, and the own-account side will he taking the lead, can sail through an FTA audit, the firm must be well on the way towards installing records back-up that might not need too much extra effort to achieve BS 5750.

I met Chris Cole, FTA regional engineer for the South West with offices in Bristol, and Gordon BuIrrian, assistant regional engineer. "Gordon has been the main instigator and researcher for this service," Chris told me. Gordon Burnan told me in way of background that the preparation work for the safety audit service had taken two and a half years.

A training course had been held at the FTA's Wadhurst, Kent, training centre, he said, and each area now had a fully trained officer for this field. He had had great assistance from the Health and Safety Executive, especially in Bristol, Motech, and the Avon County Fire Service in particular.

Research had involved studying in greater detail the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the factories Act 1961 in co-operation with the 1-"Fik. legal service department. A garage, he explained, means virtually any building 'where more than a driver's daily checks are carried out. If all this sounds legalistic, he pointed out that he is a garage man himself, so understands and is sympathetic to managers' and mechanics problems.

Workshop 'out of this world'

The workshop we went to see belongs to Allied Mills — one of the big three in that field. I must make it clear it's something special — built two years ago. The previous premises are down a Tewkesbury side street and it takes some imagination to realise that the same fleet as today's was serviced there. "The present workshop is excellent — out of this world," said Gordon. As we approached, a window cleaner was at work on the workshop's windows. He asked: "How often do you see that?"

We met transport manager and assistant group transport manager John Shephed Shepherd, based at the Tewksbury mills, and garage foreman lain Thompson, who explained they have 29 vehicles including nine tankers. They made us welcome, said: "Anything you want, tell us," and left Gordon to get on with it. First, he looked at the general register, accident book and for confirmation that there is a qualified person to change abrasive wheels, and went to the offices and men's rest room.

A first-aid box on the wall was clearly marked, had a key in the lock and another in a glass case that could be broken if the one in the lock went missin The name of the garage trained first aider Kevin Patti ger was prominently displayl on a workshop wall and Gorch explained that other first-ail aiders are on call from tl mills. This attention to det on display of the Factories Ar and various signs, had be displayed generally as we sa on tour.

The workshop impressed n as neat and tidy beyond that some office workers; whe material was piled on a floc as in a storage area, it was the end of a non-throughwa so there is nothing nitpiclth about this inspection. Neve theless, later in the workshi Gordon spotted a contain, containing inflammable liqu which should have been put store immediately after us He made a note to mentil this on completion. And I found a basic axle stand whil did not have a crosspin. On again he made a note. For serious fault, he makes a han written note handed in befo leaving; a lengthy typewritto report follows.

Gordon pointed out that tl abrasive wheels were in a w, lighted spot — the whole pla, is well lighted. Goggles we on a hook adjacent to the abr sive wheels.

So the test went on: air sy tern and electrics checked. . . He inspected the pits, course, and checked all equi ment including the trolley jacl (one of the detachable cradles was mi sing). "It's all too easy in a workshop overlook a safety related problem," I said, "and besides many specific checks look around and get the feel of a place."

However, as he said, Allied Mills has splendid workshop. So while we took photo or two to illustrate this, do n confuse them with our selection of faul found at other workshops. We also pri an extract from a report from the oth. end of the scale made at another shop the owner's name understandably knov only to the FTA. Has yours any of the faults?


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