June 9th was National Forklift Safety Day, an initiative by the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) which aims to raise awareness of safe working practices among all users of materials handling equipment. This year, the key message from NFSD is that management is responsible for segregating pedestrians from materials handling equipment. Physical barriers are the best way to achieve this but traffic planning, route marking and effective information delivery are also important. These measures can prevent the vast majority of fatalities and serious injuries.
This article was first published in the June 15th 2020 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
To support companies coming out of lockdown and resuming materials handling operations, CFTS is issuing a ‘Practical 3-Point Plan’ to ensure equipment is safe and fit for purpose. Firstly, it is the duty holder’s responsibility to check that a truck has a valid certificate and report of Thorough Examination. Secondly, the truck owner is advised to check the nature of the Thorough Examination undertaken by the provider, as some inspections cover only the lifting parts of the truck. Thirdly, if a piece of equipment has been stood down for several weeks, it must be commissioned and tested as specified in the operator’s manual. The vehicle may require a service and must be thorougly cleaned.
Some firms are beginning to emerge from lockdown, including Hyster Europe, which has announced that the factories making its Hyster forklifts, warehouse equipment and big trucks have started to resume production. Others never needed to shut down. Since the beginning of the current global crisis and up to now, tire supplier Camso has been able to maintain its operations and has adjusted its Solideal On-Site processes to ensure an efficient and smooth tyre installation service through contactless on-site procedures for forklift tire replacement. With the new measures put into place, no personal contact is required for clients who need to have their forklift tyres replaced: orders are processed online or by phone, which initiates an On-Site Service scheduled at a moment when forklifts can be isolated. With no exception, SOS technicians perform the complete tire service without contact with clients and make sure to sanitize the machines before and after their manipulations.
The entire nation is focused on safety and gloves, masks and sanitiser have become considered essential. But fork lift owners must remember the importance of Thorough Examinations as part of their approach to health and safety. It’s important to be aware that unlike MOTs, there is no revision of Thorough Examination guidance from the CFTS, FLTA, BITA or HSE – they still need to be completed as normal. A critical part of maintaining workplace safety, Thorough Examinations help maintain essential services, reduce component failures, damage and accidents. It’s an important message and one that chimes perfectly with National Forklift Safety Day. One hopes NFSD continues to grow in scope and importance in the years to come.
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