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Posted By Michael S Ward
I am having problems with some managers regarding the requirement for the regular servicing and maintenance of both powered and manual roller doors as used regularly in our warehouses and storage facilities.
I consider these to be covered under PUWER and as such have risk assessed their use, and recommended a minimum of an annual service. However, because the ACOP's etc doesn't actually mention these items [well I couldn't find a reference] as 'work equipment'some managers are arguing the need for the extra expense of having them regularly serviced, some are only having them serviced on failure.
Any additional references to these items being classed as work equipment or anyone else's experience and/or advice or even any exmples of major injuries etc caused by their failure on this subject area would be appreciated.
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Posted By Pete Stewart
Mike,
What do the manufacturers advise? Is there nothing in the handbook or other documents with regard to servicing and maintenance.
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Posted By Jane Watts
are these doors the 'up and over' type?
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Posted By Michael S Ward
Manufacturers/suppliers for new doors usually have a 'pocket' with the handbook and yes they do recomend at least annual maintenance, but obviously based on usage, However, managers often see this as a means by the manufactirer/supplier just to make more money!
On the older premises with orogonal fitted doors there is the usual lack of information available.
The majority of doors are of the 'roller' only type, but we do have some 'up & over' types as well.
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Posted By Adrian Clifton
With reference to the manual roller doors. Try approaching the problem from a manual handling view point. Poorly maintained equipment will require extra physical effort to open and close them, increasing the risk of personal injury. HASWA, safe plant and equipment?
With reference to manual and powered doors. Try a business approach.
Can't open the doors? Can't receive/despatch goods.
Can't close the doors? Increased heating bills and/or lower productivity.
Adrian
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Posted By Mike Draper
I think I would ask the question a little differently. In the event that something went wrong i.e. someone was hurt as a consequence of a failure of one of these items, what action might you face?
In a claim situation I can't help thinking that breach of stat duty, PUWER Reg 6 or WHSWR Reg 5, could come in to play, particularly since you have assessed the risk and concurred with the manufacturer's recommendations. The only question is whether you consider the roller doors to be work equipment or part of the workplace.
For a manually operated roller door, maintenance is required to ensure that the effort involved to use the door remains within the capacity of the workers. Lack of maintenance could result in higher physical demands being placed on the upper body, leading to muscle strain, lower back pain, etc.
For a powered door, lack of maintenance could result in a failure of safety devices, unintended operation, sudden or rapid movement, etc which may lead to other serious injury.
Either way round whether you consider the doors to be work equipment of part of the workplace is largely irrelevant. The consequence would be the same.
It sounds like you have done the correct thing, you just need to sell this more comprehensively to the managers.
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Posted By Michael S Ward
Thanks Adrian
have already tried the commonsense approach, including if anyone is injured/killed no proof of maintenance is more likely to result in prosecution, in cases of damage insurers may not pay out.
In some cases a 'penny wise pound foolish' attitude is hard to break.
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Posted By Pete Stewart
Hi Mike,
If there are recommendations from makers/installers then these should form the basis of PPM. If they are not followed and an accident follows that invokes the attention of the enforcers, it is likely that they will use the recommendation as the minimum requirement.
Having chosen to ignore it, and not implemented something equally as good, or better, your managers may well be in need of some seriously expensive advice.
Consider, in particular, the possibility of a poorly maintained powered door and a child. On coming into contact with an obstacle, the door should at least stop, if not reverse. However, due to poor maintenance, if the door continued to close and caused injury or worse what then?
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