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Health & safety in motor vehicle repair

MVR and associated industries cover activities such as the maintenance and repair (including tyre, exhaust, windscreen etc replacement); body repair, refinishing and valeting; MOT testing; and the roadside recovery of motor vehicles. Whilst most of these activities are carried out at MVR garages and ‘Fast fit’ centres, they are also undertaken at customers’ premises, both commercial and domestic, and at the roadside. The boundaries between the different types of outlet is becoming more and more blurred as enterprises take on a wider range of activities in an increasingly competitive market.

In 2001, it was estimated that the MVR industry in the UK employed just over 170,000 people in about 44,000 businesses. The statistics also show that the industry is still dominated by small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with over half the workforce (~58%) employed in either zero-employee enterprises e.g. sole traders or partnerships, or businesses employing less than 10 people. Companies with less than 50 people accounted for approx. 83% of the workforce.

HSE’s contact with the industry is through the MVR Health and Safety Forum which was set up in June 1999 to co-ordinate the interests and activities of all those involved with health and safety in the industry.

The industry has fatal and ‘all injuries’ accident rates higher than the average for the whole of manufacturing. Over the 3 years from 2001 to 2003, nearly 5,500 injuries were reported to the HSE and Local Authorities (LAs) from businesses where the main activity was MVR. During the same period there were 16 fatal injuries to employees or self-employed persons and almost 1,200 other major/serious injuries, some involving members of the public. The actual figures for serious and less serious injuries will be much higher than those quoted due to considerable under reporting to the enforcing authorities.

The main causes of injuries continue to be:

• Manual handling – e.g. through lifting/carrying heavy and/or awkward objects
• Slips and trips - e.g. on uneven floors or due to poor housekeeping; failure to promptly clear up oil/water spillages
• Struck by – e.g. falling objects; moving vehicles
• Falls from height - e.g. from vehicles/raised storage areas/ladders or into inspection pits
• Strike against
• Workplace transport - e.g. movement of vehicles inside/outside/around the premises

Over the past 4 years the top four above causes have accounted for over 75% of all reported injuries.

Main causes of ill health

There is also considerable underreporting of cases of occupational ill health. However, available evidence suggests that the main causes are:

• Musculoskeletal (e.g. back) injuries – e.g. lifting/carrying heavy and/or awkward objects
• Work-related asthma - e.g. use of two-pack (isocyanate) paints in vehicle refinishing
• Dermatitis - e.g. use of chemicals; wearing of latex gloves
• Vibration white finger – e.g. use of hand-held portable power tools