FEATURE SAFETY


ou may not realise it but if your organisation works with or alongside fork lift trucks your operations are at risk from the most dangerous piece of workplace transport equipment in the UK – injuring as many people at work as vans, cars and HGVs combined. Fork lift trucks seriously injure more than 800 workers in the UK every year. Because of the weight and momentum of a fork lift truck these result in much more than a knock or scrape: bones are crushed, fractured and dislocated and limbs routinely amputated.


HOW TO SAVE A LIFE Y


Management should be equipped with the training and background to competently identify hazards backed by the confidence to act when bad practice occurs. However, the key is to become familiar with the important issues affecting fork lift truck safety. While supervisor training is covered by the Health & Safety at Work Act it is now considered so important that it is specifically identified in L117 which was updated in 2013. It’s important to note that unlike other guidelines this is not a recommendation but a solid requirement: HSW requires you to provide adequate


LEGAL REQUIREMENTS Observing good safety procedures is not just helpful, it is required by law. The foundations of fork lift truck safety are contained within the Health & Safety Executive’s Rider-operated lift trucks. Operator training and safe use. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L117). Aimed at employers and those responsible for ensuring safe operations including the self-employed, managers and supervisors, it makes it very clear that the onus is on the employer to ensure the safest working environment. L117 outlines the main legal requirements relating to the operation of lift trucks and crucially contains the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance on operator training for stacking rider-operated lift trucks. However, although L117 relates to stacking rider-operated lift trucks, as an employer your duty under PUWER 98 is to ensure that operators of all types of lift truck are properly trained. By following L117 you can be assured that you are in line with legislation relevant to fork lift


truck operations including: l Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act)


l Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999


l Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98)


l Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98)


l Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992


l Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)


SUPERVISOR TRAINING The importance of good supervision, both morally and legally is paramount.


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supervision. So it is essential that supervisors have enough training and knowledge to recognise safe and unsafe fork lift practices. This does not mean they need full operator training but they do need to understand the risks involved and how to avoid or prevent them.


Supervisors should be able to: l carry out an effective observation and know what to look for;


l communicate effectively with operators and line managers;


l recognise unsafe practice and behaviour;


l maintain and promote health and safety standards; For managers and supervisors looking


for in-depth knowledge, companies such as Mentor FL Training offer specialist courses aimed at developing competence and confidence in those overseeing fork lift truck operations.


LEADING THE WAY TO A SAFER SITE Last year we launched our most ambitious safety initiative yet: the Safer Site Programme. It is an ongoing step- by-step safety initiative designed specifically for fork lift truck users that


It is essential that supervisors have enough training and knowledge to recognise safe and unsafe fork lift practices


What are the key issues affecting fork truck safety? FLTA chief executive Peter Harvey outlines its most ambitious initiative to date: the Safer Site Programme


any company, regardless of size can implement. We’ve worked closely with representatives from the HSE and other leading bodies and experts within the materials handling industry to produce a programme that will make a difference to each and every company operating fork lift trucks. The idea is simple: we provide a series of practical steps needed to move forward through the programme. Every step of the way you will be supported with free fact sheets, posters and safety resources and signposts to the right places for further guidance and important safety advice. Step 1: Getting informed is the first and


most important step of the programme. Within it are six mini-tasks complete


with free safety resources: l Choose your fork lift safety champion l Complete a self-assessment checklist l Distribute free Safety4Most packs to


managers, supervisors and fork lift truck operators on site


l Read L117 l Get acquainted with useful publications (including LOLER and PUWER)


l Take next steps Visit www.fork-truck.org.uk to take your organisation’s first step to a Safer Site. You will find a range of free materials and advice on best practice and details of initiatives including Safetember: National Fork Lift Safety Month and the annual National Fork Truck Safety Conference. If you are committed to improving safety it’s worth considering membership of the FLTA’s Safe User Group. It’s been developed especially for fork truck users and provides privileged access to legislation guidelines and advice, specialist publications, health and safety updates and safety alerts. In addition, members get discounted entry to events and access to a free, independent and confidential telephone helpline. I would urge that every person reading this and every company whose work involves fork lift trucks gets involved with the Safer Site Programme and takes this simple first step for their colleagues’ benefit and their own. If you want to know how to save a life, now or in the future, this is it.


FLTA T: 01635 277577 www.lift truck safety


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