The annual death rate in the motor vehicle repair industry is 1.6 deaths per 100,000 workers — around four times the average rate across all industries. So, in this potentially hazardous industry it is the task of the employer, to protect workers by identifying the risks and minimising the impact of those risks. Failure to learn from near misses or injuries will risk lives.
The Most Common Cause of Fatalities
Most accidents in servicing/mechanical repair involve slips, trips and falls or poor manual handling. Those resulting in serious injury or death can include working with petrol and vehicle movement.
The HSE has produced advice for the trade for ensuring that a vehicle is properly supported before any work begins on it. This includes:
Never work beneath a vehicle that is only supported on jacks:
Use axle stands that are in good condition and inspected every year.
Use stands on firm, level ground and securely located under a strong point on the vehicle.
Securely chock wheels remaining on the ground.
Do not exceed the rated capacity of the stand.
Never work beneath a cab or tipping trailer unless it is propped:
Always prop cabs, trailers, etc., that could drop under their own weight.
The prop should be locked in position before gaining access.
If there is no prop fitted, or if one is fitted but you are unsure it will be effective, provide your own.
Never crawl beneath a vehicle fitted with air suspension unless it is properly supported:
Prevent movement of air suspension, either by using suitably rated props or stands to prevent the chassis lowering, or by deflating the system.
Don’t tamper with the ride height for the purpose of recovery or repair.
Other Major Areas of Risk
Ensuring equipment used is right for the job:
Typically, the type of plant and equipment that would be found in these environments would include motor vehicle lifting tables, jacks, scissor lifts, axle stands, engine hoists, car spraying booths, air receivers, tyre machines and pressurised oil drainers.
Removal, replacement and inflation of tyres is extremely common in motor vehicle repair (around 30 million tyres are replaced in the UK each year), so it may seem a simple task. But it can cause injury and even death.
Dust and fumes:
Several processes in the re-tread industry produce inhalable and respirable nuisance dust. businesses must prevent or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately control the exposure of employees to dust from tyre re-tread processes, such as tyre buffing and skiving operations.
When working in an enclosed workshop, fumes can quickly build up if vehicle engines are left running for any period of time, particularly when several engines are running at once. People affected can be mechanics working directly on the vehicles, or anyone likely to be within the workshop i.e. office staff or the public visiting to check on their vehicle. Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide which cause headaches and sickness – and can ultimately result in asphyxiation and potentially death.
Effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV) equipment should be designed to capture dust and toxic fumes at the point where there are generated and should be subject to a thorough examination at least every 14 months.
Source: Arch Insurance
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