One of the country’s largest public-transport providers has enlisted the help of queue-management firm Tensator to help improve the safety of its bus maintenance depots.
According to the HSE, there have been more than 8000 injuries and 24 deaths in the motor vehicle repair (MVR) industry over the last five years alone.
In accordance with HSE guidance aimed at mitigating the risks to workers in the sector, Stagecoach UK Bus considered how its bus depots and vehicle-repair workshops could be improved, focusing particularly on its vehicle-inspection facilities. The company recognised that its depot vehicle-inspection pits – which are up to 21 metres long, 1.5m wide and almost 2m deep – were a hazard that needed to be addressed.*
Front of the queue
In October 2009, the bus company turned to Tensator to provide consultancy and come up with a suitable system that matched its requirements.
As part of an initial trial at Stagecoach’s Hastings depot, Tensator developed and installed its high-visibility barrier system with pit-protection posts to cordon off dangerous pit areas. According to the supplier, simple clips connect the webbing posts to pit bridges, with retractable technology allowing the safety barrier system to move with the bridge, ensuring that the pit is cordoned off at all times.
Tensator designed the system to include high-visibility yellow webbing with ‘Beware Open Pit’ messaging, plus accompanying visuals, so that it can be seen clearly by engineers and ground-floor staff.
After a successful trial period of three weeks, the safety system was rolled out across more than 100 Stagecoach depots nationwide. Tailored to meet the individual workshop requirements, installations were completed by December 2009.
Seeing the benefits
Since the roll-out, the transport firm has been delighted with the improved safety environment that the barrier system has helped it achieve.
“We are delighted by Tensator’s approach to our requirements, right from the initial consultation stage, through to the trial and subsequent full roll-out,” explained Graham Whitelocks, Stagecoach UK Bus’ director of safety, health & environment.
“Tensator’s system is extremely flexible and connectable to wall-mounted barrier units, making it perfect for installing around all existing Stagecoach pits, or integrated in new-builds. It also means mechanical engineers can easily work with the product by simply retracting the webbing to work within specific parts of the bus.
“Using Tensator’s pit-protection technology is helping ensure our employees are safe, and accidents that might otherwise occur are prevented.”
It has since gone on to order more safety barriers and posts from Tensator, which is confident that the success of the current projects will lead to a continuing relationship between the two companies.
For more information on Tensator’s health and safety solutions, call +44 (0)1908 684600, e-mail info@tensator.com or visit www.tensator.com
* Last year, a division of the bus company was prosecuted over an incident involving a teenage apprentice, who suffered serious facial injuries when he became trapped under a bus after its air suspension failed. The worker had slid beneath the bus, near the front passenger wheel, instead of carrying out the repairs from inside an inspection pit.
