Finally you have to decide how to control these risks eg LPG – regular maintenance by a competent person, cleaning chemicals – the use of a safer alternative, or when not possible personal protective equipment.

The following information covers the more common hazards associated with mobile vehicles and details the precautions necessary to help control the risks.

Please note, under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Act 1992 you must record any significant findings of the assessment when you employ five or more persons.

A leaflet entitled Five steps to risk assessment provides further information and is available from the food and safety team on 01603 212747.

7. LPG

In mobile catering units where LPG is used, all gas cylinders should either be stored in a safe place external to the vehicle, or, be housed in a compartment completely separate from the rest of the unit

A storage compartment for the LPG must be:

• constructed of materials having at least a half hour fire resistance
• sealed to prevent gas gaining access into the unit
• of sufficient size to store all LPG cylinders including spares and constructed so that access can only be obtained from outside the unit
• provided with ventilation openings at both high and low levels
• secured to prevent tampering
• used only for the storage of LPG cylinders, reducing valves etc and not for any other purpose eg storage of batteries
• provided with a suitable means of securing the cylinders in an upright position
• located such that possible accidental damage eg in the event of a road traffic accident, is minimised
• suitably labelled for LPG storage
• kept free of all sources of ignition in the compartment and sources of ignition must be a minimum of one metre from any cylinder.

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