Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries

Figure 62 Motorised pit
cover (photograph courtesy
of Premier Pits Ltd)
effective cleaning regime.
As far as possible, keep
the area clear from
obstructions and deal
with spillages immediately.
Similarly, keep the area
inside the pit free from
obstructions – this will
improve access for pit
workers.
Access to pits
225 Pits require safe
means of entry and
exit. Provide at least
one fixed entry/exit
point with additional,
separate, usable means
of escape where the risk
assessment identifies the
need (for example, where
escape may be blocked
off by the parked vehicle
or for pits over 9 m long).
Figure 63 Moveable bridge allowing access
across middle of pit
Health and Safety
Executive
226 A significant number of injuries occur from people
slipping on the access steps. Provide a handrail where
possible, for example a permanent handrail may be
appropriate on sunken pits or low-level handrails below
floor level. Removable handrails may be an option for
other installations, as in Figure 65.
Figure 64 Pit bridge with one handrail removed to provide
access to the rear of a bus. Extendible barriers provide a
warning about the open area of the pit
Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries Page 53 of 101