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Notification of Accidents
Employers are required to notify the "appropriate authority"
of accidents occuring within the premises.
In 1970 83 accidents were reported to this Authority as
compared with 86 in 1969 and 88 in 1968. Notification by nationwide
employers and small combines is reasonably satisfactory
although there is room for improvement where company policy
requires the accident notification to be directed via head office,
rather than direct by the branch to the local authority, which
causes delay before an investigation can be commenced should
it be necessary.
Individual occupiers whose incidence of accidents are
low are often unaware of their responsibility to notify and such
accidents only come to light when a visit is made to the premises.
Although no accidents reported were fatal, one which
could well have been was an explosion in a gas cooker range
in a restaurant kitchen. When the hot plate was lit an explosion
occurred severe enough to blow open the oven door. The unfortunate
employee who lit the hot plate was standing directly in
front of the oven and was badly injured.
From investigation it appears that the pilot light in the
oven had gone out some time after being lit at 8.30 a.m. and
9.00 a.m. when the hot plate was ignited. Following recommendations
the firm had flame failure valves fitted to the oven pilot
light which prevent gas enteringthe oven until the pilot is alight.
As.a result of this accident a survey of catering establishments
was carried out and advice given where necessary.
The number of accidents on steps and ladders among
female staff has decreased, probably due to the change in fashions
from the stiletto to the now popular block heel.
Consumer Protection Act, 1961
This Act gives the Secretary of State power to make regulations
on safety requirements and construction of certain goods
likely to cause death or personal injury. Regulations made
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