Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries

Figure 43 Limited clearance
beneath vehicle even with
bellows inflated
Health and Safety
Executive
Roadside repairs and recovery
Road traffic incidents (RTIs) and work-related safety
171 People at work on the roadside, either recovering or repairing motor vehicles
(which includes tyre and windscreen replacement), are subject to an additional risk
– from other road users. Many RTIs are not reportable to HSE, but it is estimated
that there could be up to ten RTI deaths to people engaged in roadside recovery/
repair each year.
172 Working at the roadside creates additional hazards, which may be site-specific
and require dynamic (‘on-the-spot’) risk assessments to be carried out. In some
circumstances, it may be safer to tow the vehicle to a workshop than attempt a
roadside repair.
173 Protecting workers
and members of the
public from traffic
risks on public roads
is mostly a matter for
road traffic law, which is
enforced by the police
and other agencies.
However, existing health
and safety legislation
requires employers and
self-employed people
to protect workers and
safeguard others put at risk by their work activities. For example, they should:
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provide safe systems of work to ensure the safety of workers and the
occupants of vehicles being recovered/repaired;
ensure vehicles and/or attachments, eg winches, cranes etc, are subject to
examination or inspection under health and safety legislation, even though they
are not covered by MOT testing.
Essential precautions
174 It is important to ensure that:
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n
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n
you assess all risks properly (traffic conditions, weather, lighting, road surface
and camber if jacking the vehicle etc) and prepare safe systems for working
at the roadside – including where and how you park your vehicle (see
Figure 44). The fend-off position is generally considered the best vehicle
orientation and should be used unless factors in the dynamic risk assessment
indicate it is inappropriate;
you provide and maintain vehicles and equipment of an appropriate standard;
appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), eg high-visibility (see
BS EN 471:2003 High-visibility warning clothing for professional use) 15 and
weatherproof clothing, footwear and gloves, is provided and used. Mobile
workers will also require a first-aid kit and a means of communication (eg a
mobile phone);
employees have been adequately trained by a competent trainer to work safely
at the roadside and to advise people in casualty vehicles on the precautions
they should be taking. Specialist training courses are commercially available;
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