View report page

64
health and welfare of employees in certain classified premises. There are approximately 59,000 persons
employed within the Borough in premises to which the Act applies. This is an increase of approximately
6,500 persons on last year's figure, due mainly to the establishment of the Post Office as a public authority,
bringing staff the the Mount Pleasant Post Office, within the scope of the Act.
The majority of premises to which the Act applies were registered by 1967 and, since then, there has
been a continued decrease in the number of persons employed in retail shops, wholesale departments and
warehouses and catering establishments open to the public.
ACCIDENTS
An accident occurring on premises subject to the Act must be notified to the enforcing authority where
such accident results in death of a person or in his absence from employment for three or more days.
Where the Council receives such a notification, and if an investigation is warranted, the site of the
accident is visited and an enquiry made. The purpose is not to apportion blame but to try and prevent
accidents occurring again in similar circumstances.
Fatal Accident
One fatality occurred during the year in a food wholesaler's premises. A verdict of accidental death was
returned at a subsequent inquest held at St. Pancras Coroner's Court.
The premises, although used for trading, were in the course of re-construction and this was a
contributory factor to the cause of the accident. After an investigation, the owners were required to carry
out an amount of repair to the premises in addition to the reconstruction work.
Non-Fatal Accidents
One hundred and sixteen non-fatal accidents were notified to the Council during the year but possibly
many accidents occurred which were not notified. This may be because employers are unaware of their
obligations to notify.
Publicity
To publicise the need to notify accidents, a separate pamphlet on the subject has been printed by the
Council and is being issued to employers giving details of their obligations, how accidents are to be notified,
penalties for not doing so and the purpose of notifications. On initial and subsequent visits to premises,
officers are making a point of emphasising to employers their obligations to notify accidents and the
pamphlet is left with the employers or the responsible person on completion of the officer's visit.
Prevention
The possible remedy of conditions which have resulted in an accident is necessary and worthwhile but,
this is perhaps 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted'. An attempt is being made, therefore, to
make employers 'accident prevention conscious' and an officer on an initial and on subsequent visits to
premises is constantly on the look out for conditions which could give rise to accidents and such conditions
are brought immediately to the employer's attention. Where someone on the premises has special
responsibility for safety, contact between him and the Council's officer on accident prevention work in the
premises can be worthwhile. It is hoped in the future to foster 'accident prevention at work'.
HOISTS AND LIFTS
The use of hoists and lifts in premises to which the Act applies can be a source of accidents and the
Hoists and Lifts Regulations were enacted in 1968 to ensure that they could be operated with safety.
The Regulations require that a hoist or lift be examined by a competent person once every six months if
operated mechanically and once every twelve months if operated non-mechanically. When as a result of this