HSE calls for safer working for removal and haulage firms

Date:

14 January 2009

Release No:

HSE/EM/842/2009

The Health and Safety Executive today called on employers in the removals and haulage business to ensure proper training and safe systems of work are in place, even for routine tasks.

The message follows an incident in Louth, Lincolnshire in which a worker was crushed between a 17-tonne removals van and a brick wall.

Fox Group (Moving & Storage) Limited was fined £3,515 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs by Skegness Magistrates today after pleading guilty to breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and contravening regulation 9 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, for failing to undertake sufficient risk assessment and training for employers.

On 30 June 2007, Steven Millward (43) from Louth was acting as a banksman, seeing a removals van back into a space when he became trapped between the van and a brick wall. He was taken to hospital where he stayed overnight, due to bruising and a suspected blood clot. Mr Millward returned to work two weeks later.

Steve Woods, HSE inspector said:

"Sadly this is an all too familiar incident in the removals and haulage business. Acting as a banksman may be seen as a straightforward routine task but it is still potentially dangerous and companies have a duty to ensure that staff are properly trained, that safe systems of work are in place and that all movements of vehicles are properly supervised.

"In this case Mr Millward was fortunate that the lorry stopped and his injuries were not severe but the risk was there and not dealt with adequately.

"Fox Group have acknowledged the need to change their systems of work and we would urge all employers in the industry to review, and where necessary, revise their safety procedures."

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News and PR East Midlands.