HSE proposes rethink on transport accidents

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is to put proposals to tackle workplace transport accidents that are designed to “change the culture of organisations” out to public consultation.

Addressing an Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research Centre meeting, Carol Grainger, who heads the HSE’s workplace transport team, said workplace transport accidents account for 2,000 serious injuries and 70 deaths each year. In HSE terms, anything that moves on a site, be it an excavator or a dump truck, is classed as workplace transport, as are cars, trucks and vans involved in accidents off the public highway.

Research showed that while training was essential, the way an individual chooses to perform a task is more heavily influenced by attitudes and beliefs. It is this cultural background the HSE is looking to change with the proposals.

These will set out a framework of good management practice, called Management Standards, covering areas such as workplace layout and risk assessment, training and competence, and management responsibilities.

Also covered will be fitness to drive (which could involve sight, hearing and other standards), information provision (especially considering the influx of workers from the new EU accession countries) and a section on visiting and agency drivers who are statistically the most likely to be injured or killed.

The proposals would place a duty on companies to assess the competence of individuals before allowing them to drive and/or operate a vehicle, to check documentation/certificates for validity, and to publish a policy on competence assessment/refresher training.

The consultation period is due to start in June and the standards should be launched by the end of March 2007.