Author - Andy Farrall
Is your firm reversing into trouble?
A transport firm has recently been fined £150,000 plus substantial costs at Chelmsford Crown Court for health & safety breaches. The prosecution followed an accident in which an employee’s head was crushed against the wall by a reversing lorry, an accident which – in the opinion of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) – could have been avoided had the risks been properly managed. (See http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-e-3211.htm for details).
The accident was horrific enough, especially for the victim, but what is equally horrific in its own way is the fact that such accidents are not exactly uncommon. Last year alone, according to the HSE, two workers were killed and 130 more were seriously injured after being hit by reversing vehicles.
Why is this allowed to happen? Why do people – especially managers – not realise that reversing vehicles are potentially lethal and so the risks associated with their use have to be managed properly?
Is it yet another example of “but ‘elf ‘n safety is just common sense, so we don’t need to do anything and it’ll be alright on the night”?
A transport firm has recently been fined £150,000 plus substantial costs at Chelmsford Crown Court for health & safety breaches. The prosecution followed an accident in which an employee’s head was crushed against the wall by a reversing lorry, an accident which – in the opinion of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) – could have been avoided had the risks been properly managed. (See http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-e-3211.htm for details).
The accident was horrific enough, especially for the victim, but what is equally horrific in its own way is the fact that such accidents are not exactly uncommon. Last year alone, according to the HSE, two workers were killed and 130 more were seriously injured after being hit by reversing vehicles.
Why is this allowed to happen? Why do people – especially managers – not realise that reversing vehicles are potentially lethal and so the risks associated with their use have to be managed properly?
Is it yet another example of “but ‘elf ‘n safety is just common sense, so we don’t need to do anything and it’ll be alright on the night”?
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