The Garage Equipment Association is collaborating with the Health and Safety Executive to help garages and workshops avoid breaches of requirements.

GEA members now have access to a health and safety area on the www.gea.co.uk website to highlight problem areas such as manual handling and working on vehicle air conditioning.

John Nelson, the GEA's chief executive, says vehicle service and repair companies are coming under increased surveillance from HSE inspectors. “On occasions they find breaches of Health and Safety requirements, usually of a minor nature,” he says. “The company concerned often needs help in overcoming the problem, so we've set up a section on the website to which HSE and local authority inspectors can refer companies for sources of help on particular issues.”

Headings in the section are ones used by the HSE in classifying problem areas or which are covered in specific information leaflets.