Four years ago, the Fork Lift Truck Association introduced National Fork Lift Safety Week, in a bid to reduce the number of British fork lift truck accidents attributable to human error – whether through complacency or a lack of basic safety procedures.
Since then, we have seen a steady decline in the number of serious accidents involving fork lift trucks. Sadly, however, the latest statistics from the HSE show that such incidents have increased by almost 4%.
According to the recorded injury figures for the year 2010/11, incidents involving fork lift trucks resulted in:
• 8 fatalities – a 60% rise from the previous year;
• 387 workers suffering major injuries requiring hospitalisation – including amputations, fractures and dislocations – up 7% from 2010/11;
• More than 1,000 employees taking 3 or more days off work due to injuries – a 6% increase from previous year.
These increases demonstrate just how easy it is to let safety slip in the workplace, which is why, as an Association, we’re encouraging every business operating a fork lift truck to double their efforts and be more vigilant about safety.
At our annual National Fork Truck Safety Conference in September, delegates heard how feedback from HSE inspectors has confirmed the important role played by training in the prevention of accidents.
Many of the accidents investigated by the HSE involve ‘casual’ or ‘just this once’ use of fork lift trucks. In some cases, trucks may be shared between companies. In a large number of these cases, there are few – if any – operatives on site who are sufficiently trained to operate a fork lift truck.
Stories such as these are backed by industry-wide research from Skills for Logistics (2010), which indicates that more than half of all employees working with and alongside fork lift trucks are not sufficiently trained to do so.
Trainers believe budget cuts, staff shortages and a lack of management awareness regarding the duty to train are behind this dangerous shortfall. Whatever the causes may be, by neglecting to ensure appropriate training levels, employers are placing lives, limbs and businesses at risk.
The law is clear about management’s duty of care in this crucial area.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers are required to provide whatever information, instruction, training and supervision is necessary to ensure employees’ health and safety in the workplace.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 expands on this. It identifies situations where training is particularly important, such as when a new employee starts, is exposed to new or increased risks, or where existing skills may be in need of refreshing.
Further guidance on the crucial subject of training is found in the HSE publication Rider-Operated Lift Trucks: Operator Training – Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L117). (This is being re-written and is due to be released in early 2013 combining HSG6. The FLTA remains concerned about the frequency of the need for refresher training and is in discussion with the HSE.)
Keep informed
The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) is the UK’s independent authority on fork lift trucks, and your first port of call for information and advice on lift truck and materials handling issues.
If you own or operate a fork lift truck, membership of the Association’s Safe User Group (SUG) provides you with all the relevant information you need to keep your business operating safely, legally and productively… in clear, concise terms.
FLTA
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