According to the British Safety Council, around 1,300 people per year are involved in forklift-related accidents each year in Britain. It’s easy to believe that forklift incidents only impact those driving the vehicles, but this is not the case. Employees working in the surrounding area are actually more at risk of involvement in an accident, which is why forklift safety should be a focus across businesses, not just with operators.
What Are Your Legal Obligations?
As an employer, you have legal obligations in regards to the safety of your employees whilst they’re at work. These obligations fall under three different regulations, all relevant to the use of forklifts and other material handling equipment:
- The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974: As an employer, you have a general duty to ensure the health and safety of your employees by providing information, instruction, training, and supervision.
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998: Employers are required to “ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken”.
- The Management Of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: This regulation also places a duty on you, as an employer, to provide training to your employees.
What Are Your Responsibilities?
Whilst at work, both employees and employers have daily responsibilities they should carry out in order to maintain safety around forklifts and other material handling equipment.
Employees
In order to keep both you and your colleagues safe, you should only use material handling equipment you have been trained to use. You should also follow your training during each use, making sure to not use the equipment in a way it isn’t intended.
Your responsibilities as an employee also extend to the actions of your colleagues. If you notice any dangerous behaviour, it’s important that you report it. THis makes sure that the entire workforce stays safe and adheres to their training and legal obligations.
Employers
Alongside the legal obligations set out above, you also have daily responsibilities as an employer on-site. You need to make sure that the operation of your business or the duties you’re asking your employees to carry out don’t put their health and safety at risk.
This responsibility, and the legal obligations above, also extend to anyone who could be affected by operations on your site, including visitors or third-party contractors.
As an employer, you need to maintain these obligations and responsibilities “so far as is reasonably practicable”. You’ll need to weigh the risk of an incident against the cost, time, and effort needed to resolve it.
Why Is Raising Awareness Important?
Forklifts are essential for any business that involves material handling, whether it be a manufacturing facility, farm, or even construction site. They can streamline operations and make movement of goods much easier, but they also pose a possible risk of injury and accidents.
Awareness initiatives, like National Forklift Safety Day, are vital in environments that use forklifts for a number of reasons, including:
-
- Reducing Accidents: By making everyone in the business aware of the possible accidents that can occur with forklift use, you’re emphasising the need for safety measures, and the importance of proper training and procedure.
- Minimising Costs: Accidents involving forklifts can lead to expensive machine repairs, lost time, and even expensive insurance claims. The implementation of safety measures is also important for your bottom line.
- Promoting Safety: It’s easy for those who regularly use machines like forklifts to become complacent as it becomes a daily ritual. By regularly reminding operators and other colleagues about both the risks and necessary precautions, you can create a much safer work environment.
UK Regulations And Standards Around Forklift Safety
As we’ve covered above, there are a number of regulations that focus on an employer’s obligation to the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. In this section, we’ll go into more detail about the relevant regulations for forklift safety, common breaches, and what could occur as a result.
The Health And Safety At Work etc. Act 1974
This Act of Parliament sets out a framework for maintaining health and safety in the workplace in the UK. Also referred to as the HASAWA, this act defines the general duties of both employees and employers.
Like many others, this legislation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). When enforcement needs to be acted upon, this responsibility is often shared between the HSE and any relevant local authorities.
Summary
Here’s a brief summary of what the HASAWA requires from a workplace:
- Adequate staff training to ensure that health and safety procedures are both understood and adhered to.
- Adequate welfare provisions for staff while they’re at work.
- A safe working environment that is properly maintained and where operations are conducted safely.
- Suitable provision of relevant information, instruction, and supervision.
The Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, also known as PUWER, provides guidance for environments in which employees regularly use, need to have knowledge of, or need to maintain, machinery or equipment.
PUWER covers sites like farms, warehouses, factories, and even offices, that regularly use larger machines. It is designed to ensure that the equipment is both safe and suitable for its intended use.
Summary
According to the HSE, PUWER requires that work equipment is:
- Suitable for its intended use.
- Safe for use.
- Maintained in a safe condition.
- Inspected regularly to make sure it’s correctly installed and hasn’t deteriorated.
- Accompanied by suitable health and safety measures.
- Including guards, emergency stop devices, isolation from sources of energy, clear markings, and warning devices.
- Used only by those who have received adequate information, instruction, and training.
- Used in accordance with specific requirements.
Lifting Operations And Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)
As well as adhering to PUWER, you must also meet the requirements of LOLER if your workplace uses lifting equipment, making this set of regulations extremely important for forklift safety. Also applying to cranes, hoists, and lifting platforms, LOLER covers a range of lifting operations and emphasises the responsibility of employers and operators.
Summary
LOLER sets out a number of key requirements, including:
- Selecting The Right Equipment: Your lifting equipment needs to be of adequate strength and stability. This adds to the obligations for the suitability of work equipment outlined under PUWER.
- Marking Your Lifting Equipment: Any lifting equipment, including accessories, need to be clearly marked with their safe working loads (SWL) – which is the maximum load the equipment can safely lift. They must also be labelled with the number of people it can lift, if applicable, or to indicate the equipment shouldn’t be used to lift people.
- Planning, Organising, And Carrying Out Lifting Operations: All lifting operations must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a safe manner.
- Examining Equipment Thoroughly: Your lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined a number of times, including:
-
- Before first use – unless there is a valid Declaration of Conformity that is no older than 12 months.
- When it is installed, or reinstalled and assembled at another site.
- When it is exposed to conditions that could cause deterioration, which could result in an increase in danger.
You can read more about LOLER and how it applies to forklift safety in another one of our blogs here.
Common Breaches Of Regulations And Their Consequences
Like with any legal obligations or industry regulations, there will be a small minority of people who breach the guidance around forklift safety. Here’s some of the most common breaches, and what could happen as a result:
- Inadequate Maintenance: Maintenance can help you identify potential issues before they become bigger problems. Avoiding this could not only lead to costly breakdowns, but can also compromise the safety of those working with, or nearby, the forklift.
- Lack Of Regular Inspections: Whether it’s pre-use checks, visual inspections, or thorough examinations, inspections ensure the functionality and integrity of your equipment. Neglecting these could compromise both the safety of your employees and the productivity of your workplace.
- Insufficient Training And Supervision: The safety of employees is reliant on the provision of proper training and consistent supervision. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide this, and failing to do so can drastically increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
- Ignoring Environmental Hazards: By driving in poorly lit areas, on uneven surfaces, or in adverse weather, can significantly increase the risk of accidents.
The Involvement Of The UKMHA In Compliance
It can be difficult to navigate the complex legal guidance and regulations around forklift safety, and to know that you’re complying to the best of your ability. The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) aims to help with this by providing support services and guidance to ensure that you continue to comply with current legislations.
By obtaining a UKMHA membership, you’ll benefit from a number of services including on-site compliance audits, a knowledge hub for key information, and a number of publications designed to keep you up to date on news and issues affecting the material handling industry.
Training And Certification For Forklift Operators
It’s clear just how important training and certification is for maintaining forklift safety and reducing accidents or injuries. Below, we’ll run through who needs training, how often training should be provided and what it may involve.
Who Should Be Given Forklift Safety Training?
Forklift safety training should not only be given to those operating the machinery, but also those who supervise the operations involving forklifts. Whether your job role involves loading goods, unloading them, or transporting them by driving a forklift within your facility, you’ll need to understand how to operate the machinery and how to interact with it safely.
Supervisors should also be given training on the safety procedures and best practices surrounding forklift use. This not only ensures safe interaction when necessary, but also allows supervisors to be on the look out for any violations and report them if needed.
How Often Should Training Be Refreshed?
According to the HSE, there isn’t a set time period after which employers need to provide refresher training for their employees. However, it is recommended that employers refresh training or retest employees after a set period, with the HSE giving the example of every three to five years.
Whether you choose to fix a set refresher period or not as an employer, it’s important that you continue to monitor performance of your operators. This allows you to identify any shortcomings in training, or any unsafe habits, which may require refresher training sooner.
What Should Training Include?
The HSE provides three stages that should always be included in forklift operator training. They are as follows:
- Basic Training: The basic skills and the knowledge required to operate a forklift safely and efficiently.
- Specific Job Training: Knowledge and understanding of the forklift’s operating principles and controls that are going to be used in their job role and workplace.
- Familiarisation Training: Applying what has been learnt during training, under normal working conditions and during typical tasks for their job role.
Daily Forklift Safety Protocols To Reduce Incidents
Once you’ve received training, it’s important to implement what you’ve learnt on a daily basis, whether you’re an operator or supervisor. By following good habits, you can ensure that forklift safety is at the forefront of every action you take at work.
Pre-Use Checklists
Pre-use checklists allow you to discover any issues that could cause damage to the equipment or compromise safety if left unfixed. Identifying these issues help to prevent accidents, reduce equipment downtime, and even extend the life of the forklifts used by your workplace.
Here’s what you may want to check:
- Visual Inspections: Check for any obvious damage, wear and tear or signs of malfunction.
- Fluid Levels: Make sure engine oil, coolant, and fuel levels are not running low, while also visually checking for any leaks.
- Tyres And Wheels: Inspect the forklift’s tires for wear, damage, or inadequate inflation. You should also check the overall condition of the wheels.
- Forks: Check the machine’s forks for any bends, cracks, or damage.
- Safety Features: Verify that your machine’s breaks, lights, and alarms are operational.
- Operator Compartment: Make sure that the seatbelt is secure, the operator’s controls are functional, and the operational manual is present.
- Environment: Before you start, and as you move around your work facility, check your surroundings for obstructions and hazards.
Load Handling Dos And Don’ts
Do
- Check the weight, size, and security of the load before lifting.
- Position the machine’s forks properly and as widely as possible to distribute the load’s weight.
- Tilt the forks back slightly to prevent the load from falling while travelling.
- Keep a safe distance from pedestrians.
- If you’re using attachments, make sure you have adequate training and authorisation to do so.
Don’t
- Exceed the forklift’s marked capacity.
- Lift loads while the forklift is in motion.
- Drive with the forks raised.
- Lift people unless the machinery is specifically designed to do so.
- Drive on uneven surfaces unless the forklift is designed for this.
Safely Navigating Tight Spaces
Operating a forklift in a tight space can be difficult, whether it’s because of narrow aisles, crowded work zones, or confined loading areas. Forklifts are designed to help with heavy lifting, but can be hard to manoeuvre because of their size and often large turning radius.
Here are some tips for getting around your workplace safely:
- Slow And Controlled Movements: Avoid sudden movements or high speeds in confined areas. Making slow and deliberate turns and movements to maintain control over your forklift.
- Be Aware Of Blind Spots: It’s ideal that you always have a clear line of sight. This may not always be possible when reversing or navigating around corners, however, so make use of mirrors, cameras, or even your colleagues to help guide your movements when blind spots are involved.
- Keep The Load Low: It’s important that you always carry loads as low as possible to improve both stability and visibility. A raised load could obstruct your view and increase the risk of tipping.
- Plan Your Route: Plan your route before moving your forklift. Identify any potential hazards and make sure your path is clear to avoid delays and reduce risk of accidents.
- Communicate With Your Team: Use hand signals, radios, or other verbal communication to make sure others are aware of your movements.
Make Forklift Safety A Continuous Priority With Stacatruc
We understand how complicated training requirements can be, with a number of regulations to follow depending on how your workplace operates. That’s why, here at Stacatruc, we offer on-site training with your equipment to really ensure every operator is comfortable and safe while at work.
You can find out more by clicking the button below, or get in touch with our expert team. We’re absolutely dedicated to providing you with the best service, with refresher training reminders and a mix of both practical and theory exercises.