WORK EQUIPMENT - 17.09.2020

Are you using the right trolleys?

A powder coating company has been fined after an employee suffered a serious injury to his lumbar vertebrae when a load fell in transit. What happened and in what way was the trolley inadequate for the task?

Toppled

The accident took place on 27 July 2017 when an employee of C & R Powder Coating and Welding Fabrication (C) was using a wheeled A-frame trolley to move large polycarbonate sheets. There were ten of the sheets on the trolley weighing a total of 340kg.

The worker was checking the straps before he set off when the load unexpectedly fell on top of him. Colleagues managed to lift the sheets away and call for an ambulance, but serious damage had been done to the worker’s lumbar vertebrae.

What caused it?

HSE inspectors determined that the main cause of the accident was that the trolley was unsuitable. It was not long enough to support the six-metre-long sheets, and there was no means of ensuring the straps would stay in place.

C pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) . The company received a £20,000 fine and was ordered to pay £10,338 in costs.

What does the law say?

Regulation 4PUWER requires that work equipment is suitable for its purpose. It’s a core requirement of these regulations and one which regularly features in prosecutions.

Tip. When considering the safety of your trolleys, begin by listing the loads which need to be moved and the terrain which will be traversed. Then consider whether your equipment is: (1) the right size and shape to support the load; (2) equipped with points which can securely hold straps or other means to hold the load securely; and (3) fitted with the right number and size of wheels.

Tip. If in doubt, a review of catalogues and suppliers’ websites should reveal whether there are better alternatives to the equipment you have. You may also find ideas for adaptors which you can make or fit to hold the materials, but if you use them, ensure that they are secure.

Tip. Instruct staff in the safe methods of transporting the materials, including selecting the right trolley if there’s more than one type available to them. Securing the load will often be necessary - where this is the case, make your rules clear and ensure that supervisors enforce them. Keep a record of the instruction you provided, the date and the names of those who attended.

What about the weight?

A common mistake is to assume that since the trolley can take the load, it’s safe for staff to manoeuvre it. However, the force required to start and stop a rolling load can be significant and may cause injury.

Tip. Pushing and pulling tasks require manual handling assessments in the same way as lifting and carrying activities. The HSE has produced a tool to help you assess the risk (see The next step ).

For a link to the HSE’s risk assessment tool for pushing and pulling tasks, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk, Download Zone, year 19, issue 1.

The load which was six metres long and comprised ten sheets was unstable due to the size of the trolley and the ineffective method of strapping. Review your use of trolleys to ensure that the right equipment is available and in use for each job. Instruct staff and make sure that supervisors enforce your rules.

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