A joint project between local Councils and the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE) has focussed on hand car washes in the district to
ensure they comply with health and safety legislation.
Environmental health officers from Suffolk Coastal and HSE staff
have been out visiting car washes in the district this month to
ensure suitable safe working conditions are in place and increasing
awareness about potential health and safety hazards involved in
this sector of work.
“The increase in hand car washes in recent years
identified concern at a national level for employees’
health, safety and welfare,” said Cllr Sherrie Green, Cabinet
Member for Community Safety.
Officers have been carrying out inspections and offering advice
on managing risks arising from electricity and slips, trips and
falls. They have also given advice on managing work related
dermatitis that can arise from prolonged contact with water and
cleaning materials. Checks were also made on compliance with
the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.
“Officers have also been on hand to offer advice to employers
and employees about working conditions. Migrant workers have
been given information about their legal right to a safe place of
work.
“Accidents and ill-health in the workplace are a burden on
businesses. The safety inspections being carried out are not
designed to prevent businesses from running but to ensure that they
are taking steps to protect their workers and comply equally with
necessary health and safety legislation,” added Cllr Green.
Hand car washes in Felixstowe, Kesgrave and Warren Heath have
already been visited and environmental health officers along with
HSE officers will continue to carry out inspections across the
region over the next few weeks.
“So far the standards in Suffolk Coastal have been found to be
generally satisfactory, however, in one case action was taken to
stop the use of a dangerous electrical extension cable,” added Cllr
Green.
Findings from the visits in Suffolk Coastal will be collated
along with those from the rest of Suffolk, Bedfordshire,
Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Norfolk to provide safety
information and advice on an industry wide
level.