HSE FOCUSES ON SITE TRANSPORT SAFETY RISKS AT SED 2003

HSE press release E065:03 - 28 April 2003

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is participating in SED 2003 with a stand that features the risks associated with site transport, a major cause of fatal and serious injuries in the construction industry.

Site transport remains a key inspection priority for HSE inspectors this year and the purpose of the stand is both to draw attention to this risk and to offer practical solutions.

Accidents from poorly managed site transport include being hit by reversing vehicles, vehicles overturning and problems caused by the inadequacy of driver training. The HSE stand will include a full-scale demonstration, showing how driver visibility can be dramatically improved by the addition of mirrors to a telehandler.

The stand will also be demonstrating the importance of site transport issues being properly considered at the design stage and assessed before work starts on site. The stand will be staffed with HSE inspectors who, in addition to being able to answering questions on site transport, will be able to answer questions on general health and safety matters. A range of priced HSE publications and free leaflets will also be available.

Notes to editors

1. There were 85 fatal injuries in the construction industry between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002, six of which were to members of the public, 14% of the fatal injuries of construction workers were caused by struck by a moving vehicle.

2. SED 2003 is a construction site equipment display being held in Milton Keynes from 29 April to 1 May 2003.

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