Safer movement of heavy goods - HSE drive to lift standards in North East and Highlands

Date:

13 November 2009

Release No:

SCO/207/09

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspectors will be carrying out a series of inspections at harbours, marine bases and pipe yard sites throughout the North East and Highlands of Scotland targeting work involving the lifting and movement of heavy goods. The aim of is to raise awareness, promote sensible management and improve standards at the locations visited in the coming week.

The inspections will focus on several key topics including how risks relating to lifting and associated transport operations are being managed. HSE inspectors are interested in how employers are promoting health and safety in these areas through safe systems of work and how HSE can help them.

Aberdeen based HSE Inspector John Radcliffe said: "Every year, about 50 people are killed, and there are more than 1500 major injuries - accidents which, for example, result in broken bones or amputations - and about 3500 injuries that cause people to be off work for more than three days, involving lifting and workplace transport.

"The majority of accidents occur during routine lifts, because they are carried out frequently and staff assume they know the risks involved.

"During our inspections we're keen to see how local employers are promoting health and safety using active leadership from managers and by involving staff. This is something we want to encourage as evidence shows that businesses with good workforce involvement perform better in terms of health and safety measures and also generally enjoy better productivity and higher levels of workforce motivation."

The essential elements required for a safe system of work include:

• Planning the lifting operation with the development and implementation of a documented lift plan
• Assessing the risks associated with the lifting operation
• Selecting appropriate equipment
• Using the selected equipment correctly
• Providing equipment that is maintained in good condition
• Communicating the lifting plan to those involved.
• Clarifying everyone's role and responsibilities, identifying who is in control of the lifting operation.
• Involving suitably trained and experienced personnel who have been assessed as competent. Preventing unauthorized use. Providing adequate supervision.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
2. The inspection initiative is being run from 16-20 November 2009. To arrange an interview with John Radcliffe please contact Paul Burgess at COI News & PR Scotland. John will be available for interviews on Monday morning.

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Issued by COI News and PR Scotland