HSE warn motor vehicle repair trade of ramp safety following Peterborough crush near miss

HSE press release E075:05 - 24 May 2005

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned the motor vehicle repair trade of the need to have its vehicle lifts and ramps regularly and thoroughly examined by a competent person after a Peterborough worker was almost crushed under a vehicle ramp.

The warning follows last week's prosecution of Boroughbury Garage Ltd, trading as Cooks Van Centre, a car dealership based in Storeys Bar Road, Peterborough after their employee, Mr Aldo Harkin, escaped a crush incident with seconds to spare.

Mr Harkin, a 56-year-old vehicle technician from Whittlesey, near Peterborough, had been working underneath a van on 7 July 2004 when its ramp collapsed. He suffered cuts and abrasions to his head, ear and shoulder, and bad bruising to his ribs and stomach. The incident could have been more serious as two colleagues were under the ramp with Mr Harkin minutes earlier.

Although arrangements had been made for a specialist company to carry out the statutory examinations, they failed to examine most of the lifting equipment for over two years. Boroughbury Garage Ltd did not have adequate health and safety monitoring arrangements, and consequently failed to notice that statutory examinations were not being carried out.

The company pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and received a fine of £14,000 with costs of £2,211 during sentencing at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Thursday 19 May 2005. In addition Mr Harkin was awarded £5,000 in compensation - the maximum compensation the court can order.

HSE's investigating Inspector Paul Hoskins said:

" It can be seen that the courts take the maintenance of health and safety arrangements very seriously.

"This case has to be a warning to other users of vehicle lifts and ramps to make sure that equipment is regularly and thoroughly examined by a competent person. It is not enough to rely on regular inspections and maintenance.

"Vehicle lifts that require people to work underneath them should receive a thorough examination every six months. Monitoring arrangements should also be in place to ensure that such examinations actually happen.

"I strongly urge all motor vehicle repair companies to visit the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr."

Notes to editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health safety and welfare at work of all his employees".

2. For more information on the work of the Health and Safety Executive see the website at www.hse.gov.uk

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