Unsafe practices rife in vehicle repair

Nearly half of motor vehicle repair premises visited across Kent have been ordered by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to make improvements. Failures included unsafe electrics and vehicle lifts, and dangerous welding equipment — all serious issues capable of leading to death or serious injury.

Mike Walters, HM Principal Inspector for the HSE in Kent, said: “Many incidents or deaths could be avoided in the motor vehicle repair trade; however, the statistics speak for themselves … We hope that through this campaign, everyone we visited has become aware of the risks involved in the workplace. We would much prefer to be offering them advice but if workers are being put at significant risk of injury or ill health, we will not hesitate to take action.”

Health and safety problems are common in this sector as businesses are often small or medium-sized and are rarely unionised.