Part 2: How safe is your workplace?

Unsafe roads tend to be narrow, full of twists and turns and blind-spots. It's the same with workplace transport, except here you have more control over the layout.

A workplace that is kept clear, free from obstructions and is suitably marked for use by vehicles - including obvious roadways, one-way systems and clear lines of sight - is far safer. Ideally, there should be complete segregation of vehicles and pedestrians.

Example

One company that failed to organise the workplace to "ensure the safe circulation of vehicles and pedestrians" was fined £10,000 with costs of £1,598 after an employee received serious injuries when the forklift he was reversing plunged into six-foot deep pit.

Magistrates heard that staff cleaning out the pit had removed the covers. The pit was cleaned twice a week, taking around two hours. The defending solicitor stated that the risks "had not occurred to the management or the company’s health and safety works committee".

Risk management

To ensure greater safety, consider the following issues as part of your risk assessment and subsequent control measures:

> Is the layout clearly marked to help both drivers and pedestrians? This could include measures such as pedestrian crossings, parking bays, one-way systems and road markings to avoid sharp bends and blind-spots.

> Are pedestrians and vehicles adequately separated?

> Are traffic routes free from congestion and well maintained? Like roads, transport routes through the workplace should be wide enough for the traffic, well-constructed and maintained, and free from obstructions and hazards.

· Would signs and other safety measures help? Make rights of way, speed limits and no entry areas clear by using familiar signs. You could also use speed bumps, fixed mirrors, lane barriers or other common road safety measures

> Make sure all drivers, including visiting delivery drivers, are aware of “what’s what” and where to go. Consider whether a site map would help.

If it works on the roads then why not implement these safety measures at work?