Every year, as a result of a lift truck accident, 1300 people in the UK suffer life-changing injuries such as dislocation or amputation.
But the fallout from an accident can run deeper and further than just the victim themselves. It can have lasting effects on their friends, families and colleagues.
And it can have consequences for the business itself, impacting finances, productivity, morale and more.
With many sites having lift trucks and on-foot personnel working together in tight spaces, it should go without saying that safe operations are anything but optional in the warehouse.
It’s easy to spend significant sums when looking to improve your site… but working safely day-to-day doesn’t need to be cost-prohibitive.
At the Association we have identified some simple ways which need little more than your time and commitment.
Raise awareness
Making all staff working with and alongside lift trucks aware of the real dangers associated with operations is key to running a safe site.
The Bury Black Pudding Company — who were Highly Commended in the FLTA Awards’ Safe Site category in 2016 — developed an in-house training solution that:
•Raised awareness of the main risks
•Highlighted things you should never do near lift trucks
•Clarified the responsibilities for employers, employees, drivers and pedestrians
Using photos of real-life accidents and injuries, the company ensured there was no doubt among staff about how important it is to be alert and follow safety protocols.
If you are setting up an initiative of your own, planning an induction, training, or a toolbox talk, the FLTA website is packed with resources, including fact sheets, videos and more.
Show your hand
In noisy, busy workplaces communication can easily break down. When you have operators and pedestrians working closely under time pressure to get tasks done, there can be a significant risk of an accident.
FLTA Safety Partner Mentor FLT Training sought a way of ensuring clear communications between operators and colleagues, even under these conditions.
Mentor’s Show Your Hand campaign helps strengthen non-verbal communications between these two groups, and it does so in a straightforward way that’s easy to convey to a workforce of any size.
Being non-verbal it transcends language barriers. This makes for an ideal solution for sites with visiting foreign drivers.
While simple, if properly implemented, it could potentially save countless lives and prevent so many easily avoidable incidents.
For your free kit (including posters and videos) visit: www.mentortraining.co.uk.
Keep informed
With best practice and legislation always changing, it can be difficult for managers and supervisors to stay on top of everything.
The FLTA’s Safe User Group is a resource of clear and concise information to help you to move
By becoming a member, you’ll have exclusive access to a host of resources, including videos, publications, and more. You’ll also unlock a discount on the FLTA web store as well as events tickets.
Visit www.fork-truck.org.uk or call 01635 277577 to find out about what the Safe User Group could do for you.
Tim Waples
FLTA, Chief Executive
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