The Health and Safety Authority Northern Ireland carried out a two week nationwide inspection and awareness campaign in February focusing on the management of vehicle risks in the workplace. Over the last six years, almost half (45%) of all reported work related fatalities involved vehicles. Last year, 18 people were killed in vehicle related incidents at work.
Inspectors from the HSA targeted transport and logistics companies, manufacturing premises, waste and recycling facilities and distribution and warehousing centres. Specific issues such as vehicle operations, particularly low speed manoeuvres, load securing and driving for work will be targeted.
Deirdre Sinnott, Senior Inspector with the HSA said, “Accident statistics show that the majority of vehicle related deaths at work occurred during low speed manoeuvring, reversing or coupling and uncoupling of vehicles. It is vital that procedures are developed and put in place to eliminate and control known risks associated with workplace vehicles. Once these written procedures are in place they should be communicated to all employees, contractors and visiting drivers in the workplace.”
HSA inspectors will focussed on:
Pedestrian management near moving vehicles
Reversing and slow speed manoeuvres
Loading and unloading
Vehicle maintenance
Certification and safety of fork lifts, tail lifts and lorry loader cranes
According to Ms. Sinnott, “Our inspectors provided lots of information and guidance to help employers reduce the likelihood of an incident involving vehicles in their business. Our range of free online courses aimed at helping employers manage work related vehicle safety, available on the HSA elearning portal at www.hsalearning.ie, were also highlighted.”
