HSE reports increase in workplace transport fatalities - Brigade has range of solutions to increase safety.

• 
• 3rd May 2008
• Materials Handling
 

The Health and Safety Executive has reported a startling increase in work place transport fatalities, many of which Brigade Electronics believe could have been avoided with suitable safety solutions.

In 2005/6 the HSE recorded the deaths of 38 employees caused by workplace transport accidents and 50 deaths in 2006/07, a massive increase of 32%, the highest since 2001.

Being hit by a moving vehicle was cited as the third most common cause of accidents involving workplace transport. According to Brigade Electronics, leaders in reversing safety and all round visibility solutions, truck driver's blind spots are the cause of many accidents caused by moving commercial vehicles. By fitting simple solutions such as Dobli mirrors or camera / monitor systems, the driver has a greater field of vision and can clearly see people and objects in his blind spots, reducing the probability of accidents.

Blind spots on trucks, particularly on the nearside, have been one of the biggest causes of road traffic accidents in Europe, leading to the development of the latest legislation which comes into force in March 2009. National law based on the directive, 2007/38/EC, will make it compulsory for trucks over 7.5 tonnes to be fitted with approved blind spot solutions, which Brigade, who have approved camera / monitor systems and mirrors, have already begun supplying.

Despite the HSE recording a 17% decrease in accidents caused by reversing vehicles in the workplace in the last two years, Brigade believes many of these deaths could easily be avoided.

Brigde's marketing manager Chris Baker said: "The decrease is encouraging but by fitting reversing alarms and reversing cameras, the figure would be significantly lower. Our broad band sound reversing alarms (bbs-tek) are now regarded as the safest on the market. Their white sound is directional, unlike tonal alarms, enabling people to detect which vehicle is reversing and taking rapid action to move to safety. Our camera systems also eliminate the blind spots to the rear and nearside. We believe these simple and cost effective solutions have made an impact on reducing reversing accidents but believe more operators should equip their fleets to reduce this figure further."

For further information contact:
Emily Randall, PR & Marcoms Exec
Telephone: +44 (0) 1322420350