Manage Risks From Workplace Vehicles
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland urges employers to make sure they can effectively manage the risk from workplace vehicles
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the 26 local district councils have urged employers to make sure they have all the information they need to effectively manage the risk from vehicles in workplaces.
Between 2004 and 2012, 40 people in Northern Ireland died in incidents related to workplace transport, highlighting just how dangerous vehicles in the workplace can be.
This message comes at the beginning of the new joint inspection and enforcement initiative, where officers from local councils and HSENI will carry out 1000 inspections across a number of key industries including construction, wholesale distribution, retail, agriculture and builders’ yards.
Safe site, safe vehicle, safe driver
During these inspections the officers will focus on three main areas – safe site, safe vehicle and safe driver and will discuss with employers what provisions they have made to ensure peoples’ safety on site.
Speaking about the initiative which is now under way, HSENI’s Deputy Chief Executive, Bryan Monson said:
“It is often the most simple and inexpensive measures that make a huge difference in helping to reduce the risk of an accident in the workplace involving a moving vehicle.
“Employers need to think about things such as checking for potential problems (risk assessments), well designed layouts, good driver training and proper systems to detect and correct unsafe practices. Think about what really happens on site rather than the theory and then make the changes needed to keep people safe.
“This will also save companies time and money by reducing incidents and damage to vehicles and products.
Find out more
“So I’d urge employers to contact HSENI or their local council’s environmental health department for advice on how they can make sure their workplace transport is safe – or to discuss any concerns they may have.”
You can find out more about how employers can manage their workplace safety on the HSENI website.
Alternatively you can contact the HSENI helpline on Tel 0800 0320 121.
Source: nibusinessinfo.co.uk
