Prevention is better than cure

In light of a number of recent prosecutions for serious
breaches of health and safety legislation the NQA explains
how developing relevant processes and procedures can
help to create a safer working environment

It is with alarming regularity that we
hear or read about accidents at
work that could have been
prevented. For those involved the
injuries they incur are often life
changing and this was highlighted
recently with the successful prosecution
of Cargo Services (UK).

Lorry driver, Robert Deverell, was injured
at the company’s site in Cardiff Docks as
his vehicle was being loaded with 18m
steel beams. A forklift truck, owned and
operated by Cargo Services, struck
Deverell as it reversed and ran over his
right leg. Doctors were later forced to
amputate the limb below the knee. He also
suffered a fractured wrist and has been
unable to return to work at Dyfed Steels
in Llanelli.

Cargo Services was subsequently
charged with breaching Section 3(1) of
the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974.

What happened to Robert Deverell is
not an isolated incident. However, such
events can, and should, be prevented by
the adoption of an accident prevention
and risk management strategy. One of
the most effective ways this can be
achieved is via compliance with OHSAS
18001.

OHSAS 18001 is the internationally
recognised assessment specification for
occupational health and safety
management systems. It was developed by
a selection of leading trade bodies,
international standards and certification
bodies to address a gap where no thirdparty
certifiable international standard
existed.

NQA has vast experience in helping
organisations implement OHSAS 18001.

Its health and safety sector manager,
Jonathan Wilson, explains, “The process
involves establishing a management
system to eliminate or minimise risk to
employees and other interested parties
who may be exposed to dangers
associated with its activities. It covers both
physical and mental wellbeing and
includes the monitoring of health and
safety management failures, auditing of
performance and review of policies and
objectives.”
Certification demonstrates a company’s
commitment to a safer working
environment and the protection of
employees against injury at work. It
supports an organisation in identifying
regulatory requirements and helps to
enforce procedures for compliance with
legislation. By involving all levels of the
organisation through setting objectives,
targets and documented responsibilities, a
better awareness of health and safety is
made possible.

Digging deeper When investigating the events leading up
to Robert Deverell’s injuries, the Health
and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the
forklift truck that struck him had a
defective reversing alarm and horn.

Records showed that the horn had been
faulty for around four years. The HSE also
found that there were insufficient
segregation procedures at the site to
prevent visiting drivers from being too
near forklift trucks.

Had OHSAS 18001 been in place these
issues could have been avoided, as
compliance to the standard is checked
against a number of clauses.

In this particular instance clause 4.4.6
Operational Control would have meant
that Cargo Services had implemented
procedures to control the identified
hazards and risks of its operations
including stipulating operating parameters
and establishing and maintaining
procedures for the design of the
workplace. Therefore, the defective
reversing alarm and horn would have
been repaired much earlier, as they would
have been tested as part of the compliance
process, and segregated areas would have
been clearly defined.

In addition, clause 4.4.7 Emergency
Preparedness and Response would have
ensured that the company had identified
the potential for accidents and incidents,
and established plans and procedures to
respond to them, including the mitigation
of any illness or injury.

Counting the cost Some business owners might think that
they can’t afford to implement an
occupational health and safety
management system – but the real
question they should ask is, can they
afford not to?
Following the guilty verdict, Cargo
Services was fined £110,000 and ordered
to pay costs of £60,246.18.

Having to pay these types of sums as
the result of a preventable accident will
have serious repercussions for the
company both financially and in terms of
damage to its reputation.

Preventative measures This particular case should act as an
incentive for any company that hasn’t yet
done so to consider OHSAS 18001
certification. NQA’s Jonathan Wilson
concludes: “Reducing risk for stakeholders
in the work environment demonstrates
diligence and commitment towards good
and responsible health and
safety management, significantly reduces
the likelihood of accidents, and provides a
framework for legal responsibilities.

Furthermore, insurance companies
recognise the standard as a means of
reducing risk, and offer more attractive
premiums.”