Garages struggling to get to grips with tough health and safety regulations are being offered a helping hand by one of the UK's biggest aftermarket players. Unipart Automotive, through its Brown Brothers division, is offering workshops advice and guidance on at-work safety legislation.

Research shows that more than one million accidents happen at work every year, costing the industry an estimated £6.5bn. Many of these incidents lead to staff having time off and can even result in legal action being taken.

But a new computer-based package is aimed at helping busy managers stay on the right side of the law. Garages are subjected to an extensive risk assessment and given an action plan that must be completed within a set time frame.

An electronic diary prompts decision makers to perform important health and safety checks such as checking fire exits, inspecting vehicle lifts and issuing personal protective equipment.

After each task is completed, a record of when it was undertaken and by which operative is stored on the user's computer. This provides evidence required by the Health and Safety Inspectorate for company compliance.

Andy Prizeman, Brown Brother customer programmes manager, says: “By implementing a structured health and safety programme and adhering to specific control measures, companies can reduce the risk of lost man hours and ultimately lost revenue.”