Workplace Transport

Workplace transport means any vehicle that is used in a work setting. It specifically excludes transport on the public highway; air, rail or water transport, and specialised transport used in underground mining.

Workplace transport is the second biggest cause of accidents in the workplace, accounting for about 70 fatalities each year. The majority of these accidents are preventable.

The four main types of workplace transport accidents which employers and the self employed need to prevent are:

• moving vehicles hitting or running over people
• people falling off workplace vehicles
• workplace vehicles overturning
• objects falling off workplace vehicles

Fork lift trucks (FLTs) feature prominently in workplace accidents. Every year there are about 8,000 lift truck accidents resulting in injury, and about 10 fatalities. Even if people are not injured in FLT accidents there is often damage to buildings, storage systems or stock. The main causes of FLT accidents are:

• lack of operator training
• inadequate premises
• poor FLT maintenance

It is the responsibility of management to assess FLT operations and ensure that safe system of work are implemented and maintained. Subsequent responsibilities for safe use will also lie with line managers, supervisors and operators.

Further guidance is also available on the Health and Safety Executive website that will help you prevent all four accident types, and emphasises the need to assess and manage site, vehicle and driver safety issues.

Who to contact

Name

Environmental Health

Address

Turnpike House
631 Eccles New Road
SALFORD
M5 2SH
Map to this location

Telephone

0161-737 0551

Email

environment@salford.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 3 October 2009