HSE warns of dangers of forklift trucks
July 1st 2007 The Health and Safety Executive
has reminded businesses that use
forklift trucks of the steps they must
take to safeguard against the
dangers posed by such vehicles.
The warning comes after Silvery
Tweed Cereals was fined £20 000
and ordered to pay costs of £5397
after pleading guilty to breaching
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety
at Work Act 1974 and Regulation
3(1) of the Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Steven Rogers sustained injuries
which have left him permanently
paralysed after a downgrade bin
which he was attempting to empty
fell from the forks of a forklift truck
and pinned him to the ground.
Martin Baillie, HSE inspector,
comments "Forklift trucks were
responsible for just under 2000
reportable incidents last year,
including seven deaths. They are a
potential danger to their operators
and to other people in the vicinity if
not operated with great care.
"Risks include being struck by a
moving truck, crushed by an
overturning vehicle, becoming
trapped between a truck and an
object or, as in this case, being
crushed by a falling load.
"Employers must ensure they
assess the risks involved in any use
of these vehicles and take
appropriate steps to counter these
risks. They must also provide
adequate health and safety training
for any employees operating forklift
trucks." More articles from Health & Safety Executive: | 
