Forklift Truck Safety

There are reputed to be over 8,000 reported accidents involving the use of forklift trucks in the UK each year and some of these result in fatalities. The majority of these accidents are caused by the lack of sufficient training of the operator, operator error, a lack of knowledge about the equipment and the working environment, bad truck maintenance, poor lighting conditions, inadequate gangways and unsuitable premises in which forklift trucks are used. In fact, slightly more pedestrians are injured as the result of a forklift accident than the operators themselves.

Legal Requirements

Several pieces of legislation apply when it comes to the use of a forklift truck and employers and operators need to be aware of the relevant legislation from the following:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• The Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment Regulations
• The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
• The Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare Regulations
• The Noise at Work Regulations
• The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations

Forklift Truck Training

Firstly, it is against the law for anybody below school leaving age to operate a forklift truck. And, if the trucks are driven at all on public highways, then the same legislation which applies to all road users with regards to the legal minimum age also applies. Operators must receive adequate training which must be administered by an accredited trainer. The training should be broken down into several stages and should initially be carried out in a safe area and not in a ‘real work operation’ situation. It should include:

• The basic knowledge and skills required to operate a forklift truck safely
• Specific job training related to the knowledge of the work environment and any requirements in handling attachments
• Further training ‘on the job’ under close supervision

Once an operator has been assessed as being fully competent, it is always useful to offer further periodic training occasionally in the form of refresher courses, particularly whenever an operator’s role has been modified in a specific way. Training records for each operator must also be kept and updated regularly.

Other Issues to Consider

Keys to a forklift truck should always be removed by the operator at the end of their shift and kept in a safe and secure place to prevent unauthorised use of the vehicle.

All areas in which the forklift truck is to be driven should be kept as flat as possible and remain clear from obstructions.

All roads, aisles and gangways should be sufficiently wide enough with adequate clearance room overhead. It’s important to make all forklift routes free of sharp bends which could be precarious if the operator is carrying a large and heavy load and, where possible, a one way system should be introduced to avoid the risk of collisions and you should also try to keep the area in which forklift trucks are operating free of pedestrians or else make sure that there are adequate signs and warning notices in place.

Operators should have seat belts/restraints and adequate protective clothing e.g. fluorescent jackets, safety footwear, hard hats etc. Flashing lights and audible warning devices should also be fitted to the trucks if possible.

Regular maintenance, training updates and the reporting of any accidents or near misses will also be necessary to ensure the safety of both the operators and of any pedestrians who may also come into contact with forklift trucks during the course of their job.