RTITB has posted a “Health and Safety Managers Guide to Lift Truck Operations”. An incident may be caused by lack of operator training or dangerous practices but often poor management and supervision are to be blamed and hence Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires employers to provide adequate supervision.
The Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L117 covers training and safe use for rider operated forklift trucks. It states that it is essential that supervisors have enough training and knowledge to recognise safe and unsafe practices and the risks involved, and how to avoid and prevent them.
Every week incidents involving materials handling equipment like forklift trucks are reported to Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who will take action for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. Here are 5 tips for safe forklift truck operations:
- Read the right guidance and act up on it. Essential read include ACOP L117 which provides a blueprint for good practice alongside practical examples. Another essential read is “Lift Truck Training: advice for employers” from HSE
- A good knowledge of safe working practices is required. You should know enough to recognise right and wrong, or what is safe or unsafe
- It is essential you understand the three stages of operator training – Basic, Job Specific and Familiarisation. Keep up to date with paperwork, for example, training records, certificates, etc., to demonstrate compliance in event of an incident.
- When it comes to forklift truck operations, environmental and general safety is important. These include debris and litter, racking damage, lighting issues, obstructed doorways or stairways, obstructed emergency equipment, spilt liquids, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, pedestrian segregation, signage, and recharging/refuelling facilities. For further information refer to HSE’s Workplace Transport Checklist
- And finally keep yourself safe and ensure you have appropriate training.
Click here to read the RTITB’s Guide.
Wallace School of Transport is a fully accredited RTITB company with over 50 years’ experience. You can be trained either at your own work site or at Wallace Centre in Park Royal.. If you have any questions, call Wallace Forklift Training on 020 8453 3440, choose option 3 or click here to email us.