Health & Safety at Work

The Health and Safety Executive have recently published a new document seeking views on its suggestions for improving on-site transport safety and ways of meeting the accident-cutting targets set out in the "Revitalising Health & Safety" initiative. Meanwhile huge increases in workplace transport inspections are planned over the next few years.

Below are brief statistics of injury figures for 2000/01 from HSE:

What the field inspectors will be looking for...

BETWEEN 60,000 and 70,000 inspections visits will focus on workplace transport over the next three years, according to the Field Operations Directorate (FOD) of the Health and Safety Executive. This compares with 2,200 site visits in 2000/2001. 'Inspectors who visit premises will be seeking the answers to questions about how the person in control manages the risks from transport in and around their premises,' they say.

'Achieve effectiveness'

Field inspectors at all planned visits will 'build on that carried out in previous years to achieve effectiveness on key issues.'

Inspectors will check that sites are segregating pedestrians from vehicles - either by barriers or distance. 'This remains the best control measure in most circumstances,' says HSE.

They will also look at minimising and controlling of reversing, focusing on the provision of one-way systems and the provision of CCTV to appropriate vehicles when the site circumstances justify it. They point to evidence that there are significant cost savings as well as risk reduction.

In addition, a third new element is being added to targets for action: the putting into place of management systems to provide adequate supervision of driving behaviour -for example, ensuring use of seats belts where roll-over protection systems are required, and observance of speed limits.

For more information see: www.hse.gov.uk/revitalising/index.htm