Food manufacture - Main causes of injury
Workplace transport
Injury statistics
- Workplace transport accidents in the food and drink industries are the second highest cause of fatal injury, comprising almost 30% of fatal accidents. During the 8 year period between April 2000 - March 2008, 10 workers were fatally injured directly by workplace transport and a further 7 were fatally injured in transport-related accidents such as falls.
- Each year over 200 people in food and drink factories are struck by fork lift trucks (FLTs) and other vehicles, frequently resulting in serious injuries.
The main causes of injury are:
- Struck by vehicle (except FLT): 31%
- Struck by FLT: 26%
- Falls from vehicles: 22%
- Trapped between vehicle and wall: 6%
- Trapped by overturning FLT; 6%
- Trapped between two vehicles: 5%
Where a person was struck by a FLT, it was reversing in 28% of
cases (21% of cases for other vehicles).
Managing the risk
Priority areas which need to be tackled are:
Pedestrian / vehicle segregation
- Have safe traffic routes been planned - preferably with one-way systems
and pedestrian crossing points?
- Are vehicles and pedestrians kept apart where possible, both inside
and outside buildings?
- Do vehicles and pedestrians have separate doors into buildings with
barriers where required?
- Are signs in place and speed limits enforced?
Vehicle reversing
- Can reversing be eliminated or at least reduced?
- Do vehicles have good all round visibility? Are mirrors and other devices
(eg rear view cameras) fitted where required?
- Is there a need to mark 'reversing areas' so these are clear
to drivers and pedestrians?
- Is there a need for a signaler (banksman) to direct reversing operations?
Does the banksman have somewhere safe to stand?
Falls from vehicles
- On FLTs, are make-shift platforms (eg pallets) used to raise workers
on the forks? Fatalities regularly occur from this practice. Only properly
constructed cages designed for lifting persons should be used.
- On grain vehicles, has the need to go on top been eliminated, for example
by providing controls at ground level and fitting manual or powered sheeting
systems?
- On tankers, has the need for top access been eliminated, for example
by 'bottom filling' and fitting gauges and controls at ground
level? Where access to man-lids is required, are access arrangements safe?
Additional transport risks relevant to the food and drink industries
- Overturning of tipping lorries and trailers
- Tailgate safety on bulk delivery vehicles
- FLTs falling from loading bays and stability of articulated trailers
- Safety in the use of tail lifts
- Noise levels in cabs and during loading/unloading.
The above 5 issues are covered in the Food Information Sheet below.
Further guidance
