A guideline for the evaluation and implementation of safe access and egress at work places

Abstract

One of the basic duties within the Occupational Health & Safety Authority Act 2000 is to provide and maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe access to and egress from any place of work under the employer's control. Regulations further require floors and traffic routes, which may provide a means of access and egress, to be suitably constructed, kept free from obstruction and to be well maintained. Access and egress means the rate or means of entry or exit to a workplace. It includes footpaths, corridors, doorways, ladders, steps, scaffoldings, access equipment, large heavy vehicles, vehicle parking areas, goods and passenger lifts, confined spaces and excavations, restricted areas, emergency and evacuation etc. However it also includes driving for work and in some countries, commuting to work. Safe access and egress is a basic safety measure for any business. When carrying out general and specific risk assessments, this must always be considered. All workplaces should be designed to allow people to move in, out and within buildings and vehicles in a safe manner. Responsibility, organisational systems, training and monitoring must all be addressed to make this possible. Careful assessment of the risks involved and implementation of simple and cost-effective safety controls can reduce the risks of access and egress significantly and avoid potential losses for industries. The effectiveness of the recommendations and guidelines depends on them being implemented. Risk assessment reviews must be carried out to ensure that systems of work are being followed at all times. Work related road accidents must be addressed as part of access and egress and every country should work to develop a system to integrate this on a national level. Driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people do. Managing driving for work must be integrated into the management of health and safety at work. Consideration must be given to whether this adequately covers this area of work. In the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway as in the United States and Canada, road accidents whilst commuting to work are not considered to be work accidents, only in Italy and Portugal have some special circumstances been accepted. The HSE says that "Health and Safety Laws apply to on-the-road work activities as to all work activities and the risks should be effectively managed within a health and safety system". Nowhere is commuting to and from work and occupational road risks mentioned in local legislation. In the U.K. Health and safety law does not apply to commuting, unless the employee is traveling from their home to a location which is not their place of work.