Employer safety warning from HSE after child falls from raised vehicle ramp

COI/W/306/09 22 May 2009

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Wales is warning employers to ensure they fully assess risk to employees and others, after an incident at a garage in Rhondda where a child fell six feet from a raised vehicle ramp.

In August 2007, a motorist took her vehicle to Pentre Motors Ltd in Pentre, to fix problems with the braking system. She went to the garage along with her twin children, who were asleep in the rear of the vehicle at the time of arrival.

The proprietor of the company, Dean Martin, raised the vehicle on to the service ramp to check for faults. During this inspection one of the children inside the vehicle opened the front passenger door and fell to the floor of the garage, suffering injuries to her face and teeth, requiring approximately 30 stitches.

Since the incident the child has experienced sight problems and headaches as a result of the fall.

Pentre Motors Ltd, pleaded to a charge under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,000 during a hearing at Llwynypia Magistrates Court.

HSE inspector Sarah Baldwin-Jones said: "Our investigation showed that Pentre Motors Ltd failed to identify the risks associated with vehicle ramps, in particular the risk of allowing children to remain in a vehicle once raised from ground level.

"Clearly in this case, the car should never have been raised on the ramp with two children asleep in the rear. Falls from height often result in serious injury as was the case here and it is for employers to ensure they take all reasonable practicable steps to prevent this from happening."

Notes to editors

1. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 states: It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

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