Risk news

When undertaking jobs which involve driving vehicles such as fork lift trucks or excavators it is important that staff are fully trained and follow proper safety procedures.

Training can help prevent unnecessary accidents and simple measures, such as wearing seatbelts can mean that should an accident occur the injuries sustained will be minimal.

In this article issues associated with work vehicles will be addressed, including the law, an example of a company who flouted it, and lessons to be learnt going forward.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

Adequate training must be given to all persons using work equipment in the following areas:

•         Method of use in order to carry out the task safely
•         The risks associated with the equipment
•         Precautions to be taken in order to minimise the chance of accidents

Case Study

A company has been prosecuted after an employee sustained serious injuries when the excavator he was driving hit a bridge on the motorway.

When the vehicle's boom came into contact with the bridge, the driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, flew through the windscreen and hit his head on the excavator's blade.

As a result of the accident the worker was in a coma for two weeks and underwent rehabilitation for five months before returning to work, but without full function in his left arm and leg.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that he had not been given proper training, as the worker was standing in for a regular driver.

Kevin Wilson, an inspector for the HSE, said: "These injuries were wholly preventable had the company ensured the driver had adequate training in safe travel positions for manoeuvring the excavator on the construction project."

The firm pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 9(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and were fined £12,750 and ordered to pay costs of £29,660.

Action points

Keep training records in order to make sure everyone who carries out tasks are properly prepared to do so and that nobody can be overlooked.

Run refresher courses so that those who were trained a long time ago can make sure their knowledge is up-to-date.

Make sure training is easily understand and carried out during working hours and not paid for by employees.