Learner Details:

Name Arsalan Ali Awan

Scenario:

You have recently moved to a new job. You are now responsible for
health and safety at a large, busy retail store that is located on the
outskirts of a large town served by good roads. The main part of the
store is open to customers to view and buy goods. At the back of the
store, through an automatic-opening door, is a large warehouse, where
stocks of goods are arranged on racks of shelving. Only store workers
are allowed in the warehouse. Warehouse workers use forklift trucks
(FLTs) to move goods from delivery trucks into the warehouse. When the
store is closed to customers the goods are moved into the main part of
the store to restock shelves.
Since you started your new job, you have seen a lot of examples of rule-
breaking in the warehouse.
For example, you have seen goods stacked in aisles and blocking
designated walkways. Workers have to avoid many obstacles as they
walk through the warehouse, causing them to step into vehicle routes.
Workers have told you that there are frequent near misses between FLTs
and workers, and collisions with products causing damage and spillages.
There are no written records of any of these.
There have been many injuries recorded over the years. Most recently, a
repeat of a more serious collision occurred involving a young FLT driver.
The brakes were applied too late, as the driver was distracted by their
mobile phone, the FLT skidded on an oil spillage and knocked goods over
onto a passing worker.
On this occasion the worker’s leg was broken, which required urgent
hospital treatment. The hospital is 5 miles (approximately 8 km) away
from the store. The worker is expected to be off work for six weeks to
recover from the injury. The injured worker is seeking legal advice in
order to make a claim for compensation.
Worker absence and turnover is high in the warehouse. There are no
health and safety worker representatives. Warehouse workers have told
you that they have complained to management about working
conditions many times. They rarely see management in the warehouse.
You cannot find any written records of complaints.
You have tried to convince the overall Store and Warehouse Manager
 that something needs to be done to improve health and safety in the
warehouse. You are told that there is no money for ‘that kind of thing’,
and even if it were available, it would cause too much disruption to
business.
As a result of the recent FLT collision, you were visited by a labour
Inspector who has made a formal order that requires workplace changes
to improve the health and safety of the workers. The Inspector thinks it
is only a matter of time before workers are more seriously injured or
even killed in the warehouse. The Inspector also observed that the
written risk assessments are too general and do not reflect the actual
risks in the warehouse. The Inspector wants to see a more effective
health and safety management system at their next visit. You have
discussed with the Inspector possible improvements to health and safety
in the warehouse. The proposed solution involves segregating FLTs and
workers with barriers, pedestrian walkways, designated crossing places
and separate entrances for workers and FLTs. In addition, you tell the
Inspector that you will review health and safety performance, internally
and externally, in order to make comparisons.

Question:

Task 5: Individual Factors

Answer:

[Individual Factors
 Frequent near misses and regular exposure to hazards can
cause workers to become desensitized to risks, resulting in a
casual attitude toward safety concerns, such as walking or driving
through unsafe areas.
 It seems other workers also engage in unsafe practices; the driver
might have followed these behaviors to fit in. A poor safety culture
can influence individuals to prioritize speed over safety.
 The scenario mentions frequent rule-breaking, with no visible
management presence or written records of complaints or
 incidents. This may have created a culture where unsafe
behavior, like using a phone while driving, is not challenged or
corrected. Which lead to serious accident
 The FLT driver is described as young, which may have less
experience in operating heavy machinery. This lack of experience
lead to poor judgment and slower decision-making, especially
in high-risk situations.
 The driver was distracted by their mobile phone, which
significantly reduced their attention to the task at hand. This
directly impacted their reaction time and contributed to the late
braking
 Given the high worker turnover and absence rates, it’s likely
the remaining workers are under increased pressure, possibly
leading to fatigue or stress
 There is no mention of regular safety training, which may mean
the driver was not adequately trained on hazard awareness,
emergency procedures, or safe FLT operation.
 The driver may not have been fully aware of the slippery oil
spillage, suggesting poor situational awareness or an inability
to recognize and respond to workplace hazards effectively.
 The absence of health and safety worker representatives,
ignored complaints, and lack of management support can result in
low morale. A disengaged worker may show reduced
commitment to following safety procedures.
 The driver may not have fully understood the severity of the
risks involved in using an FLT in a cluttered and poorly managed
warehouse environment. This indicates poor Risk Perception and
may have led to complacency or overconfidence.

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