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'Inspection pits can be death traps'
Page 34
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• Vehicle inspection pits in garages can be little more than death traps. Accumulations
of petrol vapour, exploded by sparks from broken inspection lamps and other naked flames, often result in fatal and serious burn accidents, especially as a rapid escape is usually difficult.
Warning of the unseen dangers of these "holes in the ground", the latest issue of
Accidents states "it would be of great benefit to everyone if the vehicle pit could be outlawed completely".
In view of the criticisms which can be levelled at vehicle inspection pits, the article says that garages should be encouraged to replace them by power-operated platforms to raise vehicles well above ground level.
The journal describes several accidents which have resulted from the misuse of in flammable liquids and points out that de scriptions of this kind of accident are particularly important at the moment since the Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972 will come into force on June 21.
Accidents 95 is available from HMSO priced 12+p.