The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning operators and manufacturers to review their safety procedures. One HSE inspector describes the number of deaths and injuries in the road haulage industry as "frighteningly large" - he points out that it's not just haulage companies that should be addressing the problem but everyone in the supply chain.
Between 2001 and 2006 there were an average of 10-20 fatal accidents
a year in road haulage and warehousing alone, with 1,500-1,800 major accidents and 8,500-9,000 injuries resulting in more than three days off work. The HSE has launched a campaign highlighting the number of falls from vehicles: these accounted for 42% of all accidents reported between 1993 and 2005.
HSE Inspector Janice Dale says on average five of these falls are fatal, 800 are major accidents and 1,200 result in injuries lasting longer than three days. Over the past couple of years the cost of such accidents is said to be £36.5m. "Those who can make a difference are manufacturers and vehicle buyers transport or depot managers and drivers," says Drake.
"People who buy and spec vehicles can ask for particular things to be incorporated into vehicles they are buying. The driver has got plenty of responsibility too, but the driver is also the person who can choose to climb down from vehicle using steps rather than jumping off it, which quite a lot tend to do."
Reed Business Information Limited.©2008
