Over recent years the number of Hand Car Washes has increased
within the Braintree District.
The Local Authority and the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) are responsible for regulating health & safety at these
sites depending on where the car wash is sited.
Those operated by retail premises and petrol stations are
inspected by Local Authority officers.
Those on stand alone sites, redundant petrol stations
or are run as a separate business to the retail / petrol
station are inspected by the Health And Safety Executive
(HSE).
Local Authority officers and HSE inspectors are warranted to
inspect sites and assess health and safety conditions, standards
and practices and to take enforcement action where there is the
potential for significant harm.
The Car Wash Project
Poor health and safety standards on hand car wash premises can
lead to death or serious physical harm especially if there is a
failure to train employees, maintain electrical equipment, identify
serious health and safety hazards and control risks. The hand car
wash project aimed to establish how well hand car wash premises in
Luton and other parts of the East of England Region were complying
with health and safety laws and other requirements such as the need
for Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance, planning permission
and correct discharge of contaminated water.
What the project involved
The hand car wash project involved 23 Local Authorities in
Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex,
along with Health & Safety Awareness Officers from the HSE.
Officers went to over 140 hand car wash sites across the East of
England. Some of the sites operated within the grounds of
larger retail premises, petrol stations and supermarkets, others
were located in redundant petrol stations or on commercial retail
sites.
Outcome
As a result of the project there was a notable improvement
at a majority of Hand Car Wash sites.
- Improved the levels of Employers Liability Compulsory
Insurance compliance in hand car wash businesses in the East of
England. Most premises did not have Employers Liability Compulsory
Insurance (ELCI) mainly due to a lack of awareness to obtain
it. 27 enforcement notices were served to ensure that a
certificate was obtained. All complied with the requirement to
obtain insurance cover by end of the project.
- Visiting hand car wash businesses highlighted poor
health and safety standards and an increased potential for
accidents. The hazards identified included faulty and damaged
electrics, incorrect outdoor sockets, unsafe handling and
storage of chemicals. Employees were inadequately protected
or trained. At re-visits to sites officers found health
and safety had improved.
- Enforcement action was needed in some cases to achieve
compliance. 18 enforcement notices were served 11 Prohibition
Notices and 7 improvement notices by LA and HSE Inspectors, mainly
on electrical safety. 27 Notices were served to produce
Employers Liability Insurance Certificates and there was
a successful prosecution for an ELCI breach in the East of
England region.
The Hand Car Wash Good Practice Guide
The hand car wash good practice guide which was produced by
Luton Borough Council provides practical advice on Health and
Safety for hand car wash businesses
It has information on electrical safety, workplace safety,
chemical safety and other areas of law, including environmental and
planning requirements.
The DVD uses humour and a real life business to help get the
different messages across. The messages are very clear -
Health and safety makes good business sense. Be aware of the risks
and take simple precautions to protect yourself and others.
The cost of the hand car wash good practice guide is £11 per
pack which contains laminated guidance sheets and site checklist,
and a DVD. You can also buy them individually, the DVD is £8
and the laminated sheets £5.
There will be an additional cost for postage and packaging.
To request any of the above items please complete this
online form or call Luton Borough
Council 01582 51 03 30.