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In this month’s Fact File, the Fork Lift Truck Association identifies three important safety issues affecting fork lift truck operations in the warehouse.
Safeguarding the warehouse
ess than a decade ago, Storage and Warehousing had the worst fork lift safety record of any industry. Greater awareness of the issues and positive management attitudes have resulted in a 77% improvement from 308 injuries in 2001/02 to just 71 in 2009/10. Fork lift truck injuries are frequently serious – and sometimes fatal – which is why it is so important to ensure that this improvement continues through safe working systems.
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Speed limits
Excessive speed contributes to a significant number of fork lift truck accidents. The steering and braking characteristics are different from many
distracted - mobile phones should not be used by those working in areas where fork lift trucks are operating.
other types of vehicle. When used incorrectly, especially if travelling quickly, the truck may become unstable and shed its load, or even turn over.
There is no single universal speed limit for fork lift trucks. But, as a general rule, if your employees think that fork lift trucks are travelling too fast, they probably are.
Due to the varied nature of fork lift operations, different limits should be considered in different settings. Across one site, this may be, for example, 3mph in racking, 5mph in transit and 10mph in the yard. These figures vary from business to business and location to location.
When looking at the issue of speed, consider the following actions: • Carry out a risk assessment to determine the maximum speed(s); • Communicate limits to operators, using appropriate signage; • Ensure limits are enforced by supervisors; • Establish and maintain a sound system of sanctions; a ‘three strikes and you are out’ policy may be appropriate due to the importance of this issue; • Contact your service provider or supplier for advice on specialist equipment that can physically control a truck’s speed.
Mobile phones
Generally, the use of mobile phones is considered to be a distraction. While the use of mobile phones is prohibited by law when driving on public roads, there are no specific regulations governing their use when operating a fork lift truck.
Workplace environments are no less hazardous than public roads, so it would be good practice to ban fork lift operators from using any handheld
30 ShD March 2012
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phone, or similar device, during operations.
Even if there are operational reasons for using hands-free equipment, it is not recommended. Any use should certainly be subject to a risk assessment.Special communication systems are available to assist with activities such as order picking and stock taking. Mobile phones should not be used for these types of activity. The use of non-integrated working platforms on fork lift trucks requires suitable communication between the truck’s operator and the persons on the working
platform.The method used should form part of the risk assessment, but it may be that – in these circumstances – using hands-free mobile phones is deemed preferable to shouting or using hand signals.
Pallets
Damaged pallets can be a general hazard in the warehouse. They are particularly dangerous for fork lift operators and those who work in close proximity to fork lift trucks.
When pallets are being used with a fork lift truck, they form a part of the lifting system and should be regarded with the seriousness that this requires: • Any damaged pallet should be taken out of service as soon as damage occurs or is noticed; • A system should be established for the safe transfer of goods from a damaged, laden pallet to its serviceable counterpart; • Pallets should only be repaired by the pallet manufacturer, its agent or a specialist pallet repairer.
Free fact sheets covering these topics, alongside a number of others answering common fork lift truck queries, can be downloaded at
www.fork-truck.org.uk/fact-sheets
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