A 14-year-old boy suffered life-changing injuries after being crushed between a moving vehicle and a wall at New Auto Tech Limited in Finsbury Park on 4 May 2022.
The incident occurred while the boy was waiting with an adult for an MOT test. He was seated on a chair positioned in front of the brake rollers when a mechanic attempted to reverse the vehicle. However, the vehicle unexpectedly moved forward, pinning the child against a wall.
The boy sustained multiple pelvis fractures and was off school for over a year, including three months confined to bed.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that New Auto Tech Limited had failed to adequately protect members of the public while vehicles were being moved. The ‘viewing area’ where the boy was seated lacked appropriate barriers, allowing customers to move freely within the operational area of the garage.
At a hearing in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, New Auto Tech Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of those not in their employment. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £6,810 in costs.
HSE Inspector Michelle Morphy emphasised the importance of this case: “This incident serves as a stark reminder to all MOT centres of their responsibility to ensure the safety of both their employees and members of the public. The failure to adequately segregate the public from operational areas resulted in serious injuries to this young boy.”
Source: Metro
Andrew MacCreadie
How was this an approved testing bay when it is a requirement that the viewing area is safe?
From the manual;
“a clearly defined weatherproof viewing area from which all stages of the MOT test in progress can be observed safely without interruption, except for road testing (room for 2 seated people is considered sufficient)
a sign installed in the customer reception area to alert presenters of vehicles for MOT tests of the presence of the MOT viewing area
safe access from the customer reception to the designated viewing area if the viewing area is to be located in the workshop”
Not a good time for the garage owner although accidents do happen. We use CCTV for our viewing area much safer than having vehicle presenters in the workshop.
donald
my thoughts exactly