Friday, June 15, 2007

UNISON safety inspection Depot Crush Hazard

Sent off to management a TU safety inspection report this afternoon about the new Council depot in Sutton Street, E1. The depot was originally a dairy (early 20 century?) and was acquired by the former Greater London Council.

It has had a variety of different uses over the years. It was recently taken over by “squatters” for a significant period of time. The squatters have been evicted and the buildings have undergone a refurbishment. It is due to reopen next month (maybe).
The depot will be used by Council Parking control/enforcement officers, Transport (13 vehicles), Pest control, Animal wardens, trading standards, Housing estate emergency team, Environmental Health (noise lab). Estimated approximately 90 staff, 40 vehicles (including10-12 motorbikes). Some of the Transport vehicles are 6.5m long, 31 seat coaches.

UNISON, GMB and T&G safety reps took part in inspection. Big problem that we found was with the access in and out of the depot (see left photo). The only entry and exist point is under the arch. To be blunt, there is a foreseeable and significant risk of workers being crushed or hit by vehicles as they enter or leave the depot. Workers are expected to share the only access/exist point with motor vehicles.

The space under this archway is relatively tight and even if railing were put up for pedestrians this would not prevent a crush hazard. At one point the width is only 2.93m. It is a fundamental safety rule that traffic and pedestrians are kept separate whenever possible. We have identified a former doorway into the building to the north of the archway (photo below) which could be opened and a passageway made for workers walking in and out of the depot.


Other problems we brought up was the failure to consult with safety reps until after building contracts for the depot had been signed, site security, the muster room for Parking attendants being also a rest room for all staff, query about ventilation in radio battery charging room, no drying facilities for parking attendants wet clothes, a prayer room is suppose to double as a management meeting room, no first aid room, many parts of building has no ventilation, road congestion outside depot.

We have a further meeting with management on 28 June. The crush hazard is really obvious. What makes me really fed up with process is that if management had bothered to actually consult with trade unions (as they are legally obliged) then we could have brought up this hazard at the design stage. Not after most works have been completed. Makes you weep.

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