Do you know there are more than 5,000 health and safety incidents involving transport in the workplace every year? This statistic has been produced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety.
Sadly, some of these incidents are fatal and highlights the importance of a properly implemented transport risk assessment.
In the case of Associated British Ports, DFDS Seaways PLC and ICTS (UK) Ltd, a security guard was fatally injured in 2015 when he was struck by an articulated vehicle.
The security guard was employed at the container terminal at Immingham Docks, and approached a HGV which was entering a gate and walked in front of the vehicle. The guard was not visible to the driver, either on approach to the vehicle or as he walked in front of it when he was dragged underneath as it turned towards a warehouse. He sustained multiple injuries and died at the scene.
The HSE investigation found the following:
- Associated British Ports and DFDS Seaways PLC had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient workplace transport risk assessment; and
- They had not considered the risks that vehicles posed to others.
Although Associated British Ports required the security guard at the gate to stop traffic and check pedestrians and vehicles entering the terminal it had failed to provide means to do so safely, as there was no signage indicating drivers should stop and report to security, and no safe facilities.
In addition, the investigation found that ICTS (UK) Ltd failed to provide adequate training, and the risks of stopping traffic without any physical protective measures in place had not been considered.
All 3 companies pleaded guilty to offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined a total of £1,417,320.
The HSE press release can be found here.