Safety knowledge put to the test

The Fork Lift truck Association reports that at least one UK worker is seriously injured by a fork lift truck every day and that most of these incidents are entirely avoidable. To mark its National Safety Week, the Association is challenging UK businesses using a fork lift truck to confirm their awareness of basic principles that can, quite literally, save life and limb

The FLTA's Go for Gold Challenge takes just a few minutes, is free, and aims to give all participants a firm set of safety foundations. Achieve 'gold standard' (80% or more) and you will be awarded a certificate showing you take safety seriously.

The top 10 scores will receive 15 months' free subscription to the FLTA's Safe User Group. To take part in the challenge, register your email address at www.fork-truck.org.uk.

The website hosts the FLTA's Safety Week section where you'll find free study materials: a series of four short articles which cover the following key aspects of fork lift truck safety.

Planning Fork lift trucks are dangerous if used incorrectly, and are subject to three major pieces of legislation, making it your legal obligation, as well as your moral duty to your employees, to properly plan your operations.

Risk assessments: A risk assessment is simply having the common sense to think through what you're going to do. For example, what steps can you take to protect staff: both fork lift truck operators and colleagues on foot? Be wary of 'just this once' exceptions.

Who can drive? It's essential that employees know who is and who is not authorised to operate a fork lift truck and that this is strictly enforced.

Site layout and repair: Is your site laid out in a way that minimises risk? How do you keep trucks and pedestrians apart? Poorly maintained or untidy floors may cause trucks to swerve, or even tip over.

Speed kills: Keeping control of truck speed is crucial. Set a limit and enforce it.

Refuelling and recharging: Whether a truck is diesel, electric or LPG, there are particular risks when it's refuelling. Ensure operators understand the dangers.

Communicate: Well-planned safety policies are useless unless clearly communicated and enforced. A piece of paper won't stop workers taking risks. That's your job. As supervisor, you need common sense, training to tell what's safe and what isn't, and the ability and authority to act when something is wrong.

Training: The single most important element in fork lift truck safety is arguably the operator, so it's unfortunate there are so many myths about training and selection.

Licence to kill? Most adverts for fork lift truck operators insist upon a 'fork lift truck licence'. There's no such thing. It is the employer's responsibility: to assess a driver's skills; ensure his readiness for a specific task, location and equipment; and issue him with written authorisation. Drivers' abilities must be assessed regularly, with extra training given as needed. Remember to train managers and supervisors, who need to spot and rectify dangerous practice.

Maintenance Neglecting maintenance can have serious consequences on your operations, including breakdowns and unscheduled stoppages.

Worse still, it can lead to serious accidents and put you at risk of prosecutions.

A sound system of daily or pre-shift checks is the cornerstone of good maintenance.

Tread carefully: Poor tyre maintenance - including over or under inflation - may adversely affect a truck's stability. Therefore, checking all tyres is an important element of pre-shift checks and routine preventative maintenance. Damaged or worn tyres should be replaced without delay. Only a trained fork lift truck engineer can carry out this work.

Breathe easy: Fork lift truck operations in confined areas may generate dangerous levels of poisonous fumes, so it is very important that the risks are understood fully.

Preventative maintenance: Rather than waiting for a fault to occur, a programme of planned preventative maintenance, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, should be followed.

Cleaning: Fork lift trucks operating in clean, dry areas require little cleaning, if any.

Special attention, however, is required for trucks at risk from contaminants, which can cause premature failure.

Thorough Examination While many employers are aware of the need for Thorough Examination, research shows there is confusion surrounding this statutory inspection. Operation of fork lift trucks is governed by two separate pieces of legislation.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) applies to everything from photocopiers to motor vehicles, while the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98) covers anything used for lifting. This legislation is open to interpretation, which occasionally leads some employers to fall foul of the law.

To overcome this situation, the British Industrial Truck Association and the Fork Lift Truck Association have joined forces to create a single, national procedure available to truck users, whatever their industry or location. The resulting organisation, Consolidated Fork Truck Services, has established a comprehensive procedure and strict code of practice, giving fork lift truck users a consistent, safe national standard certain to fulfil LOLER and PUWER requirements.

Whether a fork lift truck is owned outright or hired, even for a day, users and fleet owners should be fully aware of their responsibilities. At present, all fork lift trucks require a Thorough Examination - at least once every 12 months - as specified in LOLER 98. Importantly, it is not valid for a set period of time as there are different operational conditions which can affect how quickly important components wear out.

Many managers assume that Thorough Examinations are automatically covered by the hire agreement, but legislation clearly says that the responsibility lies with the company employing the truck operator.

Details at: www.thoroughexamination.org.