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restaurants and in some instances becomes an obstruction on stairways and passageways.
Older basement staircases often showed evidence of worn nosings and bowed treads
which could be hazardous.
(h) Hand Rails.
Although hand rails were provided they were sometimes fitted so close to the wall
that they could not be effectively gripped.
(i) Lifting.
There have been a number of minor injuries due to bad lifting technique, and
suitable advice was given when investigating reported accidents.
(j) Accidents.
Notification of accidents by the smaller firms has increased as the Act has become
better known. Accidents have again been mostly due to falls when slipping and to
the use of improvised stands for reaching to shelves.
There were no accidents this year from the use of gravity feed slicing machines
and the persistent propaganda and the enforcement of providing and keeping guards
on the machines has had some effect. The correct positioning of machines has been
found to be an important factor making for ease of use and reduction of accident risk,
but some operators have still failed to overcome the initial effort needed when machines
are used with guards fitted.
(k) Business Machinery.
More attention has been given to the safety measures and staff training required
in operating modern sophisticated business machines.
(1) Lifts and Hoists.
Unsatisfactory lifts and hoists have been more in evidence this year and have
caused two accidents. One fatal accident resulted from a mechanical lift of a van.
There are some very old lifts in existence especially in licensed premises, in which
bottles are loaded for cellars. (After one recent accident the Manager was explaining
and demonstrating the safeguards and improvements that had been effected to prevent
any further accidents, when he suffered a minor injury from a defect not previously
realised). Such old lifts should be taken out and replaced with modern lifts.
(m) Boiler plants in laundrettes were the subject of a special leaflet distributed
to these businesses; attention was drawn to the need for regular and frequent servicing
of such plants.
(n) Refrigerator Motors have received more attention in protective fencing.
(o) Protective aprons for butchers are now regularly advised when meat is being
boned; the Act does not appear to create a contravention in the failure of an employer
to provide such protection, although an appropriate Regulation could be made under
Section 20 of the Act.
(p) There were 11 prosecutions and 11 convictions under the Act during the
year:
A carpet retailer was fined £20 and £15 with a total of £5 5s. Od. C06ts on
two summonses.
A laundry was fined £5 with £5 5s. 0d. costs.
A hotel was fined £20 with £2 12s. 6d. costs.
A hotel was fined £20 with £2 12s. 6d. costs.
A ladies clothier was fined £10 with £5 5s. 0d. costs.
The owner of an office block was fined £5, £10, £20 and £5 (totalling £40)
with a total of £3 3s. Od. costs on four summonses.
A hotel Was fined £25 with £10 10s. 0d. costs.
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