Check Credentials Before Offering Employment, HSE Cautions Businesses
Posted on 17 Nov 2009 at 07:02 am | Tagged as: Business, Healthy Stuff, Legal
A court judgement in the case of an accident caused by the negligence of a forklift truck driver, who had furnished fake papers to secure a job, has raised the issue of stringent verification of all operators handling heavy and sensitive equipment. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now issued a caution to all employers to take special care to verify the credentials of all prospective employees.
The accident occurred on October 10, 2007 when telehandling machinery was being used to unload a wooden house kit from a lorry at a construction site in Livingston,
An HSE investigation into the accident revealed that the forklift operator had been working on the site for only a few weeks. It was also found that he had produced partly fake documents to prove his experience and training in order to secure the job.
The HSE dragged McLachlan to court charging him with the breach of Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Talking about the incident, HSE Inspector Bruce Monaghan said the accident could have been avoided by following the basic safety mechanisms and the use of stabilizers. He called upon employers to ensure that all workers follow operating instructions diligently. Furthermore, he urged employers to cross check the experience and qualifications of potential employees.
When such simple precautions are omitted, incompetent and unskilled workers are erroneously employed leading to such tragic accidents at the workplace, added Monaghan.
For anyone involved in major building, maintenance or refurbishment work compliance with Construction (Design and Management) Regulations is compulsory. Click CDMC for assistance in the necessary training to ensure organisations are aware of their health and safety obligations and remain compliant with CDM Regulations.
