4000 Kent garages to get safety visit

Up to 4000 garages in Kent will be visited by health and safety inspectors officers over the next three months.

The visits are part of a campaign geared to reducing the death and injury toll in the motor vehicle repair sector.

Over the last five years, there have been more than 8000 reportable injuries and 24 deaths in Britain’s MVR industry.

The campaign is spearheaded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health – the world’s largest health and safety body for professionals.

The inspectors will give advice to garages on how to comply with safety and maintenance standards, to help keep employees safe and healthy at work.

They will focus on the most common causes of accidents, for example poorly maintained lifting equipment, dust and other substances that can lead to breathing problems or dermatitis.

Mike Walters, HSE Principal Inspector for Kent, said: “This is an ideal opportunity for those within the industry to learn how they can comply with current health, safety and fire legislation.

“They all need to play their part in ensuring that standards are improved to help prevent needless deaths and injuries which are happening each year in this sector. “

Darren Harvey, a senior fire protection manager at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, added: “Last year we attended a fire in a car repair garage, the fire safety deficiencies were so poor that we were forced to take action.

“This is something we want to see less of in the future.”