Given the high injury rate stemming from incorrect lift truck use and the thousands spent annually replacing damaged stock, racking and trucks, supervisory staff must have knowledge of the key safety principles and relevant legislation, enabling them to identify and rectify any unsafe behaviour. 

Legislation & guidance

Observing good safety practice is not just helpful – it is required by law. In addition to the Health and Safety Act, there are two further vital pieces of legislation: Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment Regulations (PUWER 1998) and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER 1998). Earlier this year, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) released the long-awaited third edition of the Approved Code of Practice for the Use of Rider-Operated Lift Trucks (L117). Perhaps of greatest significance to this is the added emphasis placed on the training of managers and supervisors. 

 

L117 stipulates that those in supervisory roles should be sufficiently trained to identify potential hazards occurring in everyday fork lift operations.  It specifies that those overseeing operations must be able to:

• Carry out effective observations – knowing what to look out for
• Communicate effectively with operators and line managers
• Recognise unsafe practice and behaviour
• Maintain and promote health and safety standards

Unlike employees regularly using fork lift trucks, managers and supervisors overseeing operations do not need to be qualified as fork lift truck operators. But they do have a responsibility under law to ensure that every day operations are carried out safely. 

 

Training

Only those who have been fully trained to operate a fork lift truck are allowed to do so and it is vital that everyone at your site is aware of this.  

Employers must give written authorisation to each individual giving them permission to operate a specific truck in a specific location which is in line with their training. No one without this authority should get access to the keys.

 

Training should not stop there. Just as supervisors need guidance to ensure they recognise potential dangers and respond appropriately to reduce risk, pedestrians also need to be aware of the hazards associated with fork lift truck operations and the actions necessary to protect themselves and colleagues.  

 

Public roads

Any fork lift truck on a public road, even if it is just crossing between sites or unloading a parked HGV, must be registered, taxed and insured. In addition, operators – who should be your best trained and most experienced – must hold a full car licence. 

 

Loading is especially hazardous in public places, such as forecourts.  In addition to other vehicles, there will be pedestrians in the area who cannot be expected to know the risks. A specific risk assessment ensures proper consideration of everyone’s safety.

 

Maintenance

There should be a formal regime for checks, maintenance and inspections in place which is enforced by supervisors.  Daily and weekly checks should be carried out properly and recorded. Importantly, trucks should not be used when faults affecting safety are discovered. Thorough Examination – a compulsory test different from regular maintenance – should also be scheduled at intervals specified by the examiner (at least annually).  

 

Safe Site

A site’s design significantly affects the likelihood an accident. For example, if loads will be carried through doorways, entrance points must be high enough to allow clear visibility and unimpeded access. Sites must be designed with the segregation of fork lift trucks and pedestrians in mind.  Managers should consider safe site strategies, such as one-way systems and clearly designated pedestrian routes.

 

Good Housekeeping 

Risk assessments allow you to understand how fork lift trucks practically interact with the workplace.  These should be checked regularly. The FLTA recommends six-monthly reviews, and whenever the application changes. Considerations include: site layout and conditions; equipment type and specification; maintenance regimes; operator training, monitoring and discipline; pedestrian risks.

Supervisors must also establish a set of routines and policies designed to allow safe operation. Above all else, it is important that supervisors have the skills to recognise bad practice and are given the authority to deal with it.  

 

Be a safe user

The Fork Lift Truck Association Safe User Group gives you the practical, effective advice you need to keep colleagues safe and ensures you are up to date with changes to legislation and best practice. Joining is quick and easy. Take a moment to sign up at the FLTA website (www.fork-truck.org.uk) to ensure your workforce benefits in the months and years ahead.

 

Free safety resources

The Fork Lift Truck Association website has free safety downloads including posters, videos, fact sheets and so on.