An inspector calls…

Published: Commercial Vehicle Workshop   

In a perfect world, you shouldn’t have to prepare for a safety inspector’s visit, systems should be in place and working so that accidents never happen. However, when you work in an environment on a day-to-day basis, it’s easy to miss things through familiarity or by taking shortcuts to get a job done quickly. Peter Purdom from xCenta Solutions looks at the key areas for focus in the commercial arena.

Between 2002 and 2007, the motor vehicle repair sector recorded 8,000 injuries, the majority of which were a result of handling errors or slips, trips and falls, showing the real hazards are in minor issues. However, accidents have a big impact on the business through the loss of a skilled employee while time is taken to recuperate. The knock-on effect this could have to delivering the service to customers is serious and could also incur higher insurance premiums or injury settlements.

The arrival of a health and safety inspector shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Instead it should be seen as a positive, the opportunity to have an independent analysis of the potential issues in the workshop so changes can be made, compliance ensured and risk to employees minimised. 

So, what are the main areas of concern for the HSE and the areas where compliance can often fail? With slips, trips and falls the cause of the majority of injuries in the MVR sector, this is where an inspector’s main focus will lie, along with falls from height and isocyanate paints.

Trip hazards are a key area for concern and an inspector will be looking especially for trailing leads from electrical equipment and air lines in the workshop, across corridors or in the office area. General housekeeping issues can also cause accidents – everything should have a home and when equipment, tools or hazardous materials are not stored properly, accidents become a greater possibility. This can be as ‘minor’ as nuts and bolts left on the floor once a vehicle has been moved, tools not put away or oil or brake fluid spillages not cleared with proper absorbent granules.

Another important issue in commercial workshops is falling from height, the definition of which has changed from two meters to having just one foot off the ground. Therefore, an inspector will be checking existing equipment, looking at ladders and gantries to see if they conform with the regulations or meet the HSE’s preferred design. For example, guard rails around platforms or mezzanine floors are required to not only protect against workers falling but also to stop tools and equipment being knocked off and injuring someone at ground level. Also all floor pits must have chains around them when not in use and for those that work on curtain-side lorries, gantries should be used to avoid risk of falls.

The HSE has also identified isocyanate paint as a key area and consequently an inspector will be looking for a dedicated spray booth, or at least a spray space, with appropriate explosive signage, clearance time and correct protective equipment.

The inspector understands the workshop environment and recognises what is needed to get the job done – so won’t be noting tools on the floor as someone changes a gearbox. Instead, the objective is to identify errors in workshop processes, such as missing signage, faulty or worn down equipment, trip hazards or unsecure chemicals.

Management teams can use the inspection reports to see areas where greater focus is needed. Although managing health and safety may seem like a lot of administration, good systems can take away the burden, allowing the business to focus on the larger issues and, importantly, the core business of repairing vehicles.

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