Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Press releases
HSE/NW/051/07 9 May 2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has served an Improvement Notice on Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) of Piccadilly Place in Manchester following two incidents resulting in three fatalities and a third incident resulting in serious injury at local bus stations.
“Each of the incidents has occurred in the past ten months while pedestrians were using designated crossing points and each is being investigated by HSE inspectors,” says HSE’s Head of Operations for the North West, David Sowerby. “Following these fatalities and the other incident in 2007 we have now taken a wider look at the issue of pedestrian safety and are working with GMPTE to do so.
“The Improvement Notice requires GMPTE to assess all bus station premises and interchanges it operates and to make a systematic assessment of the risks to the safety of its employees and anybody else who may be affected by the conduct of its undertaking when using the designated pedestrian crossing points.
“The assessment requires a systematic examination of the design, location and use of the designated pedestrian crossing points which have been provided by GMPTE at its 22 bus stations.
“GMPTE is co-operating fully with the HSE during our investigations and is now undertaking the assessment and development of an action plan, as required by the Improvement Notice. This plan will contain a timetable for implementing the necessary measures identified in the assessment and it will be discussed with HSE.
“We both hope that the ultimate outcome will be premises that are safer to use both for GMPTE staff, as well as passengers and local pedestrians.”
The three incidents that prompted the Improvement Notice occurred in Bury, Oldham and most recently in Ashton under Lyne.
Jack and Elsie Steel (aged 92 and 93 respectively) were killed when hit by a bus whilst using a designated pedestrian crossing point bus at Bury Interchange on 10 July 2006. HSE is investigating and Greater Manchester Police have charged the bus driver with two counts of death by dangerous driving. The case is due to be heard in July.
The third fatality occurred on 23 January 2007 at Cheapside bus station in Oldham when the deceased Ann Kerridge (aged 55) was hit by a bus whilst using a designated crossing point. HSE is investigating and a GMP file is with the Crown Prosecution Service.
A third accident involves 77-year-old Ivy Kershaw who was hit by a bus at Ashton Under Lyne bus station on 2 February 2007, also on a designated pedestrian crossing point. Mrs Kershaw is still in hospital with a broken shoulder and serious head injuries.
HSE’s Improvement Notice alleges that under the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Sections 2 and 3; the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3(1) and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992, Regulation 17(1), a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to GMPTE’s employees to which they are exposed whilst at work and the risks to safety of persons not in its employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct of its undertaking, namely the design. location and use of designated pedestrian crossing points at sites operated by GMPTE, has not been undertaken
It requires GMPTE to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the safety of its employees and anybody else who may be affected by the conduct of its undertaking when using the designated pedestrian crossing points. The assessment should be a systematic examination of the design, location and use of the designated pedestrian crossing points which have been provided by GMPTE at the bus stations and interchanges etc operated by them. The significant findings should be recorded.
A suitable and sufficient assessment should:
HS(G)136 “Workplace Transport Safety – An employers guide” ISBN 0 7176 6154 7, price £11.50 contains HSE guidance on safe transport operations and L21 The Approved Code of Practice for the “Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 ”, ISBN 0 7176 2488 9 contains further information with regard to risk assessments. "Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Approved Code of Practice and Guidance", L24. 1992, HSC, ISBN 0 7176 04136, £5.75 . All are available from HSE Books (01787 881165, FAX 01787313995 or any good bookstore.
Issued on behalf of HSE by Government News Network North West.
Paul Brady, HSE Regional Information Officer. Tel: 0161 952 4509 , e-mail: paul.brady@gnn.gsi.gov.uk or
David Harris or Jonathan Morgan, GMPTE Media Relations. Tel: 0161 244 1055 or e-mail: mediarelations@gmpte.gov.uk
Issued on behalf of HSE by Government News Network North West.