The Garage 361

NEWS
Vehicle Inspection Pits.
Did You Know…
Despite their ubiquitous nature, vehicle inspection pits
pose a risk to those who work both in and around them.
Whilst they are below ground level,
falling into one is considered a
Fall from Height and must comply
with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
According to HSE, falls from heights
remain a leading cause of injuries and fatal
accidents at work.
Working at Height Regulations
The Work at Height Regulations 2005
apply to all work at height with a risk of a
fall liable to cause personal injury.
They place duties on employers, the
self-employed, and any person who
controls the work of others (for example,
facilities managers or building owners who
may contract others to work at height).
Experience shows that such events
usually arise due to poor management
control rather than equipment failure. In
MVR, risk assessments should include:
Prevention of falls in vehicle inspection
pits and the safety of steps into the pit
and ladders.
GRIPCLAD® can supply GRP Grating
covers for Bus & Coach Pits, Truck, Trailer
& HGV Pits, Wide Bodied Vehicle Pits,
and Railway & Locomotive Pits. DVSA ATF
Testing Pits right down to the humble
Home Garage Pit.
Uncovered Pits –
An accident waiting to happen
A deep pit left uncovered is a potential
hazard. Oil spills and other mechanical
fluids can cause slips, leading to injuries.
Additionally, if a garage is poorly lit or has
cars suspended, an uncovered garage
pit can present even more prevalent
workplace hazards.
Garage pits come in all shapes, sizes
and depths – and aren’t just for cars. For
HGVs, coaches, or even locomotive and
railway needs, garage inspection pits need
a durable, high-quality cover to protect
staff and visitors.
Open Inspection Fit – Without
Fall Protection
What can be done to prevent falls?
The simple answer is to…COVER IT
Most pits have been covered with
awkward, heavy, and cumbersome timber,
such as railway sleepers or metal grilles,
which pose a small risk of falling whilst
setting them down or lifting them out.
Why wooden planks don’t cut it
anymore?
Some garages still use traditional wooden
planks to cover inspection pits, which can
easily splinter, rot under the amount of
liquid in a garage and may not be suited
to hold significant weight. Wood is also
challenging to keep clean as it absorbs any
liquid, making walking on it a slip hazard.
They are also heavy to move around,
and storing them must be done carefully
to avoid damage and damp collection.
So, what is the practical answer?
You need a solid, durable, lightweight
cover to lift and shift and an obvious antislip
to eradicate this risk.
GRP Grating is the solution you need
GRIPCLAD® GRP Grating is durable and
lightweight and solves this problem in
multiple ways. Not only does it allow for
better cleaning, visibility and storage, but
it also allows for ventilation in the garage
pit and better chemical resistance.
https://gripclad.co.uk/applications/
garage-inspection-pit/
14 THE GARAGE
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