Certain vehicles and trailers with original MOT due dates in October 2020 will get an exemption.
Will I get an exemption?
Eligible vehicles and trailers with October 2020 test dates will be given a 3 or 12-month exemption.
Which vehicles/trailers need a test in October 2020?
Mandatory tests will be required for vehicles and trailers which do not qualify for a longer exemption. These are:
• Vehicles with an original test date in April 2020
• Vehicles with an original test date in July 2020
How do I find out my current test date?
Operators can use MOT test history to confirm vehicle test expiry dates.
What advice has been given to ATFs?
We continue to remind ATFs about the vehicle/trailer tests they should prioritise. The highest priority are those which legally need a test.
1. Vehicles/trailers legally due a test within a month
2. Vehicles/trailers going on international journeys
3. Dangerous goods vehicles
4. Specialist vehicle types (e.g. refuse vehicles, gritters)
5. Prohibition clearances
What if I am unable to get a test booking?
We’ll be making more testing staff available to ATFs at short notice. So, it’s worth checking availability several times with a range of ATFs.
To find ATFs within an area, visit our Book a lorry, bus or trailer annual test page.

Exemption status – 12-month exemption
New test date: October 2021

Eligibility –
Either:
• Earned Recognition operator (whole fleet)
• operator in green OCRS roadworthiness band with 50 or more events and a calculated roadworthiness base
score of 1.3 or lower on 27 July 2020
• vehicles or trailers up to 2 years old

Exemption status – 3-month exemption
New test date: January 2021

Eligibility –
Not previously had an exemption and not eligible for a 12-month exemption (see above)

The union Unite has said that Bernard Matthews bosses ‘disregarded Coronavirus concerns’ at its Great Witchingham factory in Norfolk, where 75 staff have tested positive.
Unite says it repeatedly flagged social distancing and safety issues with the factory’s management prior to the outbreak, but the grievances were met with unsatisfactory responses.
The union adds that during a visit by the HSE on 21 October, the company also refused to allow a union health and safety rep to speak to HSE personnel – something they are lawfully entitled to do.
On 19 October, the company reinstated bus fares – charging £5 a day following an increase from £3.50 this summer – on its company run buses after having suspended them at the beginning of the month to encourage staff not to car share.
The suspension came following pressure from Unite, after Bernard Matthews said car sharing could be linked to a separate outbreak at its Holton site in Suffolk.
The risk of an outbreak at the factory has also been exacerbated, says Unite, by Bernard Matthews’ policy of not providing company sick pay. Minimum wage Bernard Matthews workers who need to self-isolate must survive on statutory sick pay (SSP) of £95.85 a week, take holidays or use banked hours they will have to pay back at a later date.
Unite says it has repeatedly warned Bernard Matthews that company sick pay needs to be implemented not only during outbreaks, but as a preventative measure so that financially vulnerable staff do not disregard the need to self-isolate because they need to pay their bills.
During the outbreak at Norfolk’s Banham Poultry, staff told the BBC that workers turned up for work sick because they could not afford to get by on SSP.
Unite regional officer Mark Jaina said: “Bernard Matthews has consistently disregarded Coronavirus concerns raised by Unite and individual staff members, as well as preventing a union safety rep exercising their lawful right to speak to HSE personnel during a visit this week to the Great Witchingham site.
“Despite knowing the risks, Bernard Matthews has gone back to encouraging car sharing by charging for buses and is refusing to implement sick pay policies that would prevent symptomatic staff on poverty wages from turning up to work.
“As part of the same billion-pound poultry empire as 2 Sisters, Bernard Matthews should be doing much more to protect its staff and the public during the pandemic.”

Unite
October 2020

A bakery has been fined after an employee amputated his right hand on a bagel production line.
Luton Magistrates’ Court heard how the employee was able to access the internal parts of the machine as he attempted to clear dough that had become jammed. As the dough was cleared the machine restarted dragging the victim’s arm into the danger zone where his hand was amputated at the wrist.
The HSE investigated the incident, which occurred on 2 October 2017, and found that the company did not have adequate measures in place to prevent access to the dangerous parts of the machine.
Mr Bagel’s Limited of Bridge Road East, Welwyn Garden City pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 of The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay costs of £4,500.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Nigel Fitzhugh said: “This injury was easily prevented. Machine blockages are routine events; the risk to a person from clearing them should have been identified.
“Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”
HSE
August 2020

The company owners of two UK-registered fishing vessels which went to sea without the correct certification have been found guilty in a prosecution by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and fined a total of £4,000.
Philomena Trawlers Ltd and D and G Seafoods Ltd were represented by defence lawyer Paul Rogers at the hearing at Southampton Magistrates Court on Friday 28 August.
Both companies pleaded guilty to charges of offences Contrary to Regulations 5(1)(b) and 5(4) of the Fishing Vessels (Codes of Practice) Regulations 2017. Philomena Trawlers Ltd were fined £1,000 and D&G Seafoods Ltd were fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,380.
The court heard how scalloping trawlers Camm Courageous and the Sea Lady, owned by companies Philomena Trawlers Ltd and D and G Seafoods Ltd respectively, went to sea with invalid or expired International Fishing Vessel Certificates on 14 July 2020.
Two days later, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency issued detention notices to the companies. However, both vessels continued fishing and on July 18th they came into the Port of Shoreham with a joint catch worth around £25,000.
The MCA’s Regulatory and Compliance Investigations team applied for and were granted court summonses, which were served on 20 July to the representative for both vessels, Mr Christopher Nicholson.
On passing sentence the magistrates said: “This was a technical breach with no apparent criminal intent. Certificates are there for a purpose and those vessels which did not go out fishing without a valid certificate need to know it is the right course of action.”
Paul Atkins, Financial Investigations Manager at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “We will always investigate those who disregard the regulations and legislation under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. The regulations are there to ensure the safety of those at sea.
“Many events involving casualties on fishing vessels are a result of compliance failure, neglect and flagrant disregard for the law. This is completely unacceptable and those who put lives at risk will be investigated and prosecuted where necessary.
“We are committed to ensuring that all breaches of these vital regulations are fairly and robustly investigated.”
The Sea Lady has now been released from detention after rectifying their deficiencies and paying a £30,000 bond. The Camm Courageous remains under detention.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency
September 2020