H C SLINGSBY PLC Everyone has a responsibility to themselves and to their colleagues to behave responsibly and take any appropriate safety precautions in the workplace, especially when it involves handling and lifting and operating machinery. While the vast majority of forklift truck operators are careful and responsible, accidents can still happen - indeed, there are thousands of them each year in the UK alone. That's why it's so important to take the right steps to ensure that any risk of an accident is minimised.
Here are a few key tips you should remember to ensure both your safety and that of others when operating a forklift truck in the workplace.
What causes forklift truck accidents?
There are a number of different factors responsible for forklift truck accidents. These may include inadequate truck maintenance, poor lighting and visibility, unsuitable surroundings or simple operator error. Perhaps the main cause of operator error is inadequate training, so it's up to employers to ensure first of all that their forklift truck operatives are properly trained and that their knowledge is appropriately applied. Only fully trained drivers should be allowed to use forklift trucks unsupervised.
It's also a good idea to provide regular refresher training for forklift truck operatives. That should help to keep their skills sharpened and prevent complacency - a major cause of industrial accidents - from setting in.
Following safety precautions
Not only should forklift truck operatives be properly trained, but they should also be equipped with the right safety clothing; this should include hi-vis vests, safety shoes and hard hats where appropriate. Loose-fitting clothing should also be avoided, as it may become snagged on the frame of the truck or interfere in some way with the controls.
Forklift trucks should be inspected before setting off, and any problems should be reported immediately. All appropriate safety rules and warning signs must be followed, while operators should also take care to avoid driving a forklift truck in unauthorised areas. Also, drivers should avoid driving a truck with wet or greasy hands, as this is likely to significantly reduce the control they have over the vehicle. Don't drive on slippery surfaces or soft ground, either.
It's also worth noting that clear signage and marking is particularly important for forklift truck drivers to be able to work safely. Signs to indicate maximum clearance heights and permitted floor loadings must be put in place. Drivers should also be advised that they must follow any directions which appear on signs and markings, and warned of the dangers of cutting corners.
Loading and visibility
It might be tempting to add a little more to your truck's load just to save time, but this could be a major error. Drivers must avoid overloading their truck; doing so can cause the truck's rear tyres to rise up off the ground, causing it to tip over and potentially cause serious injury to the driver and any nearby bystanders. It's important to know the capacity of the truck so as to avoid overloading it. Be sure to check the capacity plate when taking on new loads.
Care must also be taken to ensure good visibility. Carry loads low to the floor where possible to ensure good forward visibility, but where good forward visibility is impossible, operate the truck in reverse. Be sure, however, to take extra care that the load is safe before reversing. If visibility is particularly poor, it's a good idea to recruit a lookout to help you navigate safely.
|
distributed by
|
