| Storage and warehousing can be a dangerous | | | | training. Tower scaffolds, for instance, can provide an |
| business if important safety rules are not adhered to. | | | | excellent means of access to different parts of the |
| A recent serious injury to an employee of a | | | | warehouse. |
| warehousing company has prompted the Health and | | | | The Health and Safety Executive severely criticised |
| Safety Executive to remind companies of the | | | | the storage and warehousing plant at which the |
| necessity of following its rules. | | | | recent accident took place. It claimed that it would |
| The recent accident that resulted in the victim | | | | have been avoided if a supervisor had been on site. |
| fracturing his pelvis and crushing his vertebra after a | | | | The supervisor would have been able to see that the |
| fall, demonstrates the importance of supervision and | | | | boards on which the employee had been standing in |
| planning heights properly. The accident occurred | | | | the warehouse were unstable and therefore unsafe. |
| outside normal working hours at the storage and | | | | As a result the company was fined £20,000 |
| warehousing company based in the UK. | | | | for each breach of the Health and Safety at Work |
| According to the Health and Safety Executive: | | | | etc Act 1974. In addition to this it was ordered to |
| 'It highlights the need for companies to make sure | | | | pay court costs along with £5000 to the |
| safety procedures are in place whenever their | | | | victim. |
| employees are at work, not just during normal hours. | | | | Falls are the most common cause of fatal accidents |
| It continued to say that companies in this sector | | | | in storage and warehousing companies. They make |
| should always conduct a detailed risk assessment | | | | up around 13% of all injuries that occur on site. |
| before starting work. They should also always ensure | | | | However, the good news is that many of these |
| that there is a safe way for employees to move | | | | accidents can be avoided if companies adhere to |
| around and that they should be given any necessary | | | | health and safety guidelines. |