27/06/2005 - News In Brief

Free workplace transport safety 'tool'

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has developed a "free interactive tool" to help site managers tackle workplace transport health and safety issues.

The 'Safe Site' tool - available on the HSE website - features a number of case studies describing various "unsafe sites" where accidents have taken place. These are followed up with "safe" versions of the same sites to highlight various potential improvements.

The HSE said that while all of the case studies were fictional, many were based on "very real dangerous situations that have been found by HSE inspectors."

The full version of the software is interactive and requires the freely available Macromedia Shockwave plug in - which can be downloaded via the new HSE webpage - see link above/right.

The HSE has also provided a "cut-down" version for anyone who cannot download the Shockwave software.

Among the features highlighted in the case studies are a loading-bay, an untidy crossing, poor paving, difficult reversing and dangerous unloading.