FEATURE LIFT TRUCKS
REINFORCING IMPORTANCE of driver training for safer workplace
Warehouse workhorses, powerful forklifts can be dangerous if not used carefully. James Clark, secretary-general of BITA emphasises the importance of ongoing driver training
I
ncidents involving pedestrians struck by vehicles are the most common type
of major workplace accident and forklifts are involved in one in four of such accidents. Many of these are preventable if drivers are properly trained with untrained drivers obviously posing a much greater risk. This is why driver training and refresher training is so vital.
OPERATION AND TRAINING: THE RULES No one can operate a forklift truck in the general working environment below the age of 16 but in ports this rises to 18. Regarding physical requirements, each person's fitness for operating a lift truck should be judged individually with an emphasis on matching the requirements of a task with the fitness and abilities of the driver. Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 employers are required to ‘ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety including methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1974 and 1999 place duties on employers to provide training, information, instruction and supervision to ensure the health and safety of their employees. This legislation
means that initial operator training is in effect compulsory but this is not the case for refresher training.
LEGISLATION OR CO-OPERATION? Some have argued that refresher training should be compulsory. At BITA we believe that the current legislation surrounding the use of forklift trucks is sufficient but it isn’t just about legislation. Best practice in health and safety isn’t
simply about knowing and following the rules but building a corporate culture around site safety and security. We would encourage a partnership approach between employers and employees to create an environment where both parties are aware of best practice based on their own initiative. Effective driver training should not be about enforcement but education both for operators and employers. From an employer’s perspective driver training and safety best practice should not be seen as a cost or as ‘red tape’ but an investment in their own bottom line. Taking measures to reduce accidents
means less downtime/staff time off, increased productivity and fewer potential compensation claims. From an operator’s perspective driver
training it is a fundamental investment in their own future health and safety and that of work colleagues.
THE STAGES OF DRIVER TRAINING Driver training can be delivered in-house
or through providers in three stages: Basic Specific job Familiarisation: applying what has
been learned under normal conditions, on the job under supervision Undergoing training does not result in a
forklift ‘driver’s licence’ as such but the provider should issue a certificate or document detailing the training given and the employer is required to give written authority to an employee to operate the equipment. We are all aware of technological
developments around automation, some of which are having an impact on the skills required by operators but this is not a reason to reduce standards; thorough high quality training remains absolutely vital. At BITA we believe that materials handling stakeholders have a vital role to play in training and safety and developed publications to help. Available from our website, these include our safety best practice booklets aimed at operators in addition to best practice and legislation guidance notes for employers and managers.
BITA T: 01344 623 800
www.bita.org.uk/online-store
STRICT TESTING CRITERIA ENSURES COMPLIANCE AND WORKER SAFETY
Recent legislative changes with more emphasis on punishment mean that ensuring your equipment complies with the law is more important than ever before, according to CFTS, the body behind the national standard for the Thorough Examination of forklift trucks and related transport. With managers and directors overseeing operations at risk of violating the
law resulting in life threatening accidents, CFTS continuously looks for ways to ensure that the wear, efficiency and performance of lift trucks are measured and recorded precisely to protect British companies. Set up as a joint initiative between the FLTA and BITA, CFTS is responsible for the comprehensive procedure and strict code of practice for the Thorough Examination of forklift trucks followed by the scheme’s national network of more than 450 accredited Thorough Examination providers. “CFTS Thorough Examinations require competent inspectors to perform accurate physical examinations on key components,” explains chairman Mike Mathias. “With CFTS there is no room for guesswork. Consider a forklift truck’s chains as one example. They are a vital component of a truck’s lifting mechanism. Every CFTS examiner is required to use an accurate chain gauge that judges wear and tear precisely with results that can be replicated. “They carry additional equipment essential for accessing key components
S4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | MATERIALS HANDLING & LOGISTICS
including a jack for checking the brakes and steering or A-frame ladders to inspect chain wear at the top of the mast where it passes over the rollers, arguably the most crucial area for wear and faults. It’s this kind of intensive and exhaustive inspection that sets CFTS apart. “CFTS Thorough Examinations ensure the truck meets the rigorous
demands of LOLER 98 which covers lifting components including the forks and chains as well as PUWER 98 which governs other critical safety items such as brakes, steering and tyres. “To protect employers and those working with and alongside fork lift
trucks, our 33-point Thorough Examination standard was specially developed for compliance and consistency so employers can be confident that their trucks are working safely and within the law wherever they are in the UK. By specifying a CFTS-accredited examination be assured that you are fulfilling your responsibilities to comply with the law and protect your staff.” Visit the website for information on CFTS Thorough Examinations including details of your nearest CFTS accredited company.
CFTS T: 01276 502930
www.thoroughexamination.org
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