Workplace transport inspection pack

2 Guidance on the management of the topic areaMany industrial sectors have their own particular WT problems which may differ frommost other industries these are described in the Section 4. However, certain themesare common to a wide range of industrial Sectors, and this section outlines thosecross-industry issues which it will be most worthwhile considering at visits where WTmatters are to be addressed.Appendix 1 gives a 2-page summary of causal factors in workplace transportaccidents from a 2 year study. These are:no or inadequate risk assessment ;poor workplace design & layout, especially poor vehicle / pedestrian segregation;poor system for detecting & correcting unsafe behaviour (linked to people knowinglynot following rules / procedures);poor driver training.The above causal factors give rise to the four principal accident types (12 yearaggregate statistics – 1993/4 – 2004/5)):people struck by vehicle (about 76% WT fatals, 42% of WT major injuries);people falling from vehicles (7% WT fatals,42% WT major injuries);people hit by object falling from vehicle (8% WT fatals,11% WT major injuries); andcollapse / overturn of vehicles (6% WT fatals, 2% WT major injuries)2.1 Management2.1.1 Assessment of WT risks and control measuresFailure to adequately assess and control WT risks contributed to 70% of WTaccidents in a recent HSE study (Appendix 1). Many SMEs remain completelyunaware of risk assessment requirements for this topic. Even employers who knowthey must assess risks often overlook assessing WT risks, especially from vehiclemovements. Carrying out a risk assessment with the aid of HSE guidance shouldfocus the duty holder’s mind on potential WT risks not only to people, but to valuablevehicles, stock, storage racking, buildings etc. The WT Checklist in Section 7 willhelp duty holders assess WT risks.2.1.2 Supervising & monitoring workplace transport issuesDuty holders often fail to monitor standards and detect and correct unsafe behaviourof their own employees as well as visiting drivers. Employers often assume that ifthey train their drivers, maintain their vehicles and install some pedestrian / vehicleseparation measures, they have complied. They fail to set up any simple system forchecking whether people actually follow the site rules and procedures expected egon vehicle / pedestrian segregation, loading, speeding (though for some vehicles asimpler solution to speeding is possible, by mechanically restricting their speed).