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Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) is first for independent health and safety news.
March 12, 2009

Campaign – falls from vehicles- Fleetness of foot

The campaign also highlights a number of cost-effective ways to prevent

the occurrence of such falls, which are not only a major cause of

injuries but cost industry more than £35 million each year.Last year, more than 1600 workers were injured and four were killed as a result of falling from vehicles – the second most common vehicle-related type of accident in the workplace. When companies are investing in new fleet, they should ensure that all vehicles carry the hallmarks of safe design. The HSE advises that the specification for new vehicles should include safety steps, handrails/hand-holds, and slip-resistant floors.Marcia Davies, HSE director of injuries reduction, said: “Falls from vehicles, even from a relatively low height, can cause severe and life-changing injury, and most are easily preventable. Those responsible for managing and planning work with, and on, vehicles should try to minimise the extent to which tasks have to be carried out at height as one obvious way to prevent falls. There are often easy alternative ways of working to eliminate the need to climb to a height.”She continued: “The campaign is focusing primarily on those who decide what type of vehicles are used and the way they are used, rather than the people using them. This is because so many injuries are caused by poor vehicle design and inadequate delivery arrangements.”DVDs of campaign material are available from HSE Books at www.hsebooks.com/Books/default.asp

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