The Health & Safety Executive has found that working in vehicle repairs is now as hazardous, in terms of accident frequency, as the traditionally unsafe agricultural industry.
With the HSE stepping up its recruitment of inspectors, workshops should expect more frequent inspections, according to the Retail Motor Industry Federation.
RMI environment, health and safety adviser Peter Barlow said garages were checked about once every three years but this was set to increase.
He advised workshops to adopt safety procedures without delay. “Inspectors dissatisfied with health and safety arrangements will issue an improvement notice for completion of the necessary actions, to which motor vehicle repair businesses should react immediately.
“Businesses should seek advice if they are unsure what is required.”
This month, the HSE published guidelines to help employers and trainers provide effective health and safety training for employees.
An HSE spokesman said: “Training is key. Employers need to invest in it.”
He added that in all industries in the UK last year, “300 people were killed at work”.
HSE director general Timothy Walker said: “Most health and safety failures are avoidable. They are due to poor management and ignorance of good practice. Employers, in consultation with workers, are key to driving up standards and improving the working environment.”
Barlow said the HSE had organised a motor vehicle repair forum that will provide a safety checklist specific to the motor repair industry.
According to Barlow, most injuries were caused by “slips, trips and falls, moving goods and vehicles about
the workshop, and manual handling”.
The next most common cause of accidents were “petrol explosions and falls from height”, he added.