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54
A man aged 76 mounted a stool with casters to reach a file on a shelf
some 6 feet high when the stool rolled backwards and he was thrown on the
floor sustaining a fractured pelvis. The stool has since been removed from
the premises.
Accidents due to change in heights of stair or step risers have been
reported. External terazzo steps to a new office building caused an accident
due to an architectural fault. The first step down was shorter than the top
step which left a drop, the height of a double riser, at each side. An employee
leaving the office in a hurry stepped the distance of two risers and fell, sustaining
a fractured femur. The architect was met on the site, and he arranged
for protective handrails to be fitted on each side to prevent a recurrence of
this type of accident.
With regard to machine accidents, a brewers' employee whilst loading
boxes of wine on to a moving chain conveyor trapped his foot between the
chain and the cog wheel. Fortunately the conveyor was stopped almost
immediately but his foot was saved from being crushed due to his wearing
specially made metal protected toecaps to his shoes. It is to be regretted
that it is not compulsory for protective shoes to be worn in occupations
where such hazards exist.
An explosion in a gas cooker in a restaurant injured an employee by
burns and kept her off duty for some three weeks. The employing company
has been instructed and has undertaken to ensure the regular servicing of
the gas cooker in future.
Problems have arisen in the past with regard to betting shops. Unsatisfactory
conditions have been found where sanitary accommodation has
been shared with occupants of domestic rooms above and ventilation of the
offices has been restricted or is non-existent by fixing windows for security
reasons. Another problem is that of the continuous counter without a raisable
flap but with a gate in the riser through which authorised persons have to
crawl or stoop to gain admittance to the premises at the rear of the counter.
This method of access is at times likely to cause injury and is deprecated.
The receipt of planning applications for betting shops now gives the
inspectorate opportunity to report upon the requirements of the Act before
consideration by the planning c ommittee.
The lack of staff rooms in shops has revealed unsatisfactory conditions
where no meals as defined in Section 15 are taken in the shop. In one food
supermarket the only '' staff room" available is a small ventilated lobby containing
two wash basins. Here the female staff congregate to smoke and talk,
obstructing the use of the facilities for the purpose for which they were designed.
Similar conditions have been noted in offices where provision has
not been made for staff rooms.
One finds dirt and accumulations of rubbish in offices and shops. The
occupier is not always to blame and the careless and untidy behaviour of
staff in leaving their belongings, outer shoes, shopping bags etc., strewn
over staff room floors with coats hung on opened doors of lockers leaves
much to be desired.