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2 February 2005 - HSE to Blitz Hants in
Transport Storage and Distribution
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The largest blitz campaign ever is soon to take place by the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and 5 local authorities in the area of
Southampton, with the aim of improving upon health and safety within businesses
involved in the following:
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transport
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storage and distribution, including logistics and storage
companies
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parcel carriers
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couriers
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builders merchants
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wholesalers
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distribution depots for major retailers
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drinks & food distributors
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removal firms
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home delivery organisations.
Although the businesses being targeted will be mainly those who
have the greatest number of vehicle movements for the handling of goods, smaller
businesses will also be targeted.
More than 150 sites will be visited in Southampton and
surrounding areas during the campaign, where inspectors will look at the control
of risks within the following areas:
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workplace transport - lorries in the yard or fork lift trucks
and other vehicles
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the risk of back injuries etc. from the lifting and carrying of
goods, either in a warehouse or depot, or when delivering building materials,
furniture etc. to customers
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falls from heights, especially from lorries during loading,
connecting up and sheeting, and from high level storage systems
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slips and trips from things left lying around, spillages &
uneven floors, and in refrigerated warehouses etc.
Head of HSE's National HSE/LA Partnership Programme commented:
"HSE and LAs share common goals to reduce the toll of
injuries and ill-health at work. Though there are some differences in our
backgrounds and responsibilities, we are increasingly seeking to exploit the
many benefits of working together. In this initiative we will be able to
follow the transport chain through and look at an organisation's activities from
when it receives the goods until when it delivers them instead of HSE and LAs
each dealing with each bit independently."
Being a large scale programme, there will undoubtedly be
considerable enforcement actions issued where health and safety risks to workers
are found to be inadequate. However, officials are also looking for
good health and safety practices.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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