The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) have alerted companies of a health and safety campaign which began on 3 March 2008. The campaign focuses on workplace transport and especially the segregation of vehicles and pedestrians, training of drivers and the operation and maintenance of forklift trucks and other vehicles.
Malcolm Downey of the HSE NI, said, "Workplace transport remains one of the main causes of fatal accidents in workplaces across Northern Ireland. In the last five years, 21 people have been killed at work due to incidents involving reversing vehicles, forklift trucks, vehicles overturning and poor segregation of vehicles and workers."
During this initiative, the HSE NI will have over 20 inspectors checking for unsafe vehicle movement, poorly maintained vehicles and untrained drivers. Inspectors are also prepared to take appropriate enforcement action where statutory requirements are not being met. This may include the issuing of prohibition and improvement notices, if necessary.
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