Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Press releases
HSE/NE/258/08 04 July 2008
Landlords of industrial estates across Newcastle, Gateshead and North and South Tyneside were today warned that health and safety inspectors will be out in force carrying out safety spot checks next week (commencing 7th July), and that enforcement action will be taken if any breaches of the relevant legislation are found.
Teams of enforcement officers from the Health and Safety Executive and the relevant local authorities will be working together to ensure that landlords and owners of industrial estates are meeting their responsibilities including: ensuring that there are safe routes for vehicles to enter and leave estates, that pedestrians and vehicles are separated and that procedures are in place to maintain, manage and repair their premises.
HSE Inspector Graham Watson said particular attention would be paid to landlords’ duties relating to work place transport. Inspectors will be looking for evidence that demonstrates that sites are safe for vehicles and pedestrians to use safely, that road surfaces are well maintained, and that where possible, there are effective one way systems for HGVs.
He said:
“Landlords and owners of industrial estates have responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act to control risks on their estates and liaise with their tenants to ensure that any shared responsibilities are effectively discharged.
“In 2006/07 there were 66 fatal accidents in Great Britain associated with workplace transport so we’ll also be checking that vehicles are safe and that there are safe systems of work, particularly for HGVs and fork lift trucks.
“In the last 2 years, HSE have served Improvement Notices on the landlords of Industrial Estates at Tursdale and Tanfield, County Durham to ensure transport risks on site are properly controlled. In addition, at Tursdale Industrial Estate, an occupier of a factory was fined over £6000 when a works vehicle collided with a car on an internal road on the Estate.
“At the end of the day, preventing an accident occurring is much better than having to deal with the consequences, and we will be able to offer constructive, practical advice where appropriate.”
For advice and information on health and safety in the workplace, contact the Health and Safety Executive on 0845 3450055 or visit www.hse.gov.uk or contact your local authority.
Jackie Woods/ Jill Barber - 0191 202 3604/3609
Out of hours - 020 7928 8382
HSE's InfoLine - 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE HSE BY COI NEWS AND PR (North East)
For more information, contact Jackie Woods/ Jill Barber on Tel no : 0191 202 3604/3609