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The increased incidence of reported accidents due to falls gives some cause for concern,
i.e. some 37.0% compared with an average of 30.3% for the three preceding years.
This is despite improvements brought about by enforcement of the Act with particular regard
to maintenance of floor surfaces and coverings and staircases. Fourteen of the 30
accidents reported due to falls occured in retail shops. It will be of interest to compare the
incidence with that recorded nationally as no firm conclusions can be drawn from the
numbers reported locally.
Only one accident was reported involving a gravity-feed food slicing machine. A
female shop assistant sustained a severe laceration to her right thumb necessitating five
stitches while slicing a small piece of breakfast sausage. The transparent plastic feed
chute guard provided for the machine was not in place at the time. A last slice plate
provided was not being used.
Following investigation, a warning letter was sent to the firm concerned.
Another accident investigated involved a powered mincing machine in the butchery
department of a retail shop. The employee concerned, a 15 year old boy, switched off the
power supply to the machine in order to remove the perforated mincer plate to clear
gristle. The locking nut had been removed. The worm shaft, however, continued to rotate
under its own momentum and the employee's finger was lacerated by the revolving rear
plate. Advice was given concerning the need to allow moving parts to come to rest before
dismantling takes place.
As in former years, the majority of accidents involving the use of hand tools occurred
in butchers shops. A reduction in the incidence of such accidents can be assisted by the
provision of heavy duty aprons in cutting rooms and by the use of mesh gloves, together
with thorough craft training. An analysis of reported accidents is contained in Tables
E and F.
Display of the Abstract of the Act (Section 50)
Occupiers of 244 premises were advised of the requirement to display an Abstract
of the Act or to issue copies to employees. Despite the display of Abstracts, it was
apparent that many employees did not bother to read them.
Conclusion
While steady, if unspectacular, progress has been made in the enforcement of the
Act, there does seem to be considerable scope for improvement by way of education
particularly and this highlights the need for regular visits to be made to registered premises.
It is during such visits that Inspectors can discuss ways and means of improving conditions
and draw attention to possible hazards. The annual total of working hours lost
through preventable accidents represents a formidable challenge to all concerned in the
operation of the Act and underlines the need for constant vigilance. It is important,however,
that the somewhat surprisingly low level of complaints received should not be allowed
to give rise to a sense of complacency.
The assistance and advice given by the Officers of H.M. Factory Inspectorate is once
again gratefully acknowledged.
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