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Although lift trucks are very useful machines for moving materials in many industries they do feature prominently in industrial accidents. Every year there are over 8,000 reportable lift truck accidents, approximately 10 of these accidents result in fatalities.
These are analysed as follows:
- Injuries to operators 40%
- Injuries to pedestrians 60%
About 45% of accidents involving' lift trucks are due to lack of operator training, operator error and poor knowledge. of the equipment and work area, Other causes include inadequate premises, lighting, gangways, poor truck maintenance etc,
Lift truck operators should be over the minimum school-
Minimum ages specified in road traffic legislation apply when lift trucks are on public roads. A very high level of concentration is required in operating a lift truck correctly. The truck is expensive and so are the products it will be moving. A trained and qualified operator is an asset to a company, an untrained operator is a liability, This manual will explain the legal requirements and safe working practices needed to operate a forklift truck.
Employers and employees have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at work Act 1974. Also specific regulations which you must obey include the management of Health and Safety at Work regulations, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations, the workplace (health, safety and welfare ) regulations, the Noise at Work Regulations, the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974
Relevant extract from the above Act.
GENERAL DUTIES OF THE EMPLOYER
Section 2
1. It shall be the duty of every employer en ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
2. Without prejudice to the generality of an employers duty under the preceding subsection,
the matters to which that duty extends include in particular:-
(a) The provision and maintenance if plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health;
(b) Arrangements for enduring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and absence of risk to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.
(c) The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far is as reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.
(d) So as is reasonably practicable as regards a place of work under the employers control, the maintenance of it in a condition that is safe and without risk to health and the provision and maintenance of means of access to and egress from it that are safe and without such risks;
(e) The provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees that is, so far as reasonably practicable, safe without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.
MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGS 1999
Relevant extracts from the above Regs.
These Regulations reinforce many of the duties laid down in the health and Safety at work Act 1974.
The main duties are RISK ASSESSMENTS.
1. Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of:-
(a) The risks tot he health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work and
(b) The risk to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking.
PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT REGS 1998 ((PUWER)
Relevant extracts from the above Regs.
The primary objectives of these Regulations are to ensure that the provision of safe working equipment and should not give rise to health and safety, irrespective of its age or place of origin.
(a) work equipment should be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided, and should be properly maintained and inspected at suitable intervals;
(b) Where the use of work equipment is likely to involve specific risks, the use, maintenance etc. of that equipment is restricted to people given the tack of using and/or maintaining it, and
(c) Users, supervisors and managers have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety, including:
i) Training in the methods which may be adopted when using work equipment;
ii) Any risks which such use may entail; and
iii) Precautions to be taken.
The Regulations also require that lift trucks which carry a seated ride-
LIFTING OPERATION AND LIFTING EQUIPMENT REGS 1998 (LOLER)
Relevant extracts from the above Regs.
These regulations deal with specific hazards/risks associated with lifting equipment
and lifting operations. They replace most sector-
Management should ensure that every lifting operation involving a lift truck is:
(a) Properly planned be a competent person;
(b) Appropriately supervised; and
(c) Carried out in a safe manner.
There is now a statutory requirement for all lift trucks to be thoroughly examined at least every 12 months by competent person, such an examination should cover the whole truck not just the chains and forks. Every record of inspection shall be kept available until the next such report is made.
THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR RIDER OPERATED LIFT TRUCKS
Relevant extracts from the above (ACOP L117).
An approved code of practice is advice to duty holders on how to comply with legislation.
The code is directed at the basic training of all employees whose employment after 1st April 1989 includes for the first time the operation of lift trucks. However, to comply with their duties under the HSW Act employers, must ensure ALL operators they employ, both new and existing are adequately trained and if necessary, provide for their additional or refresher training. The code and accompanying guidance should help the employer make the assessment. While many existing operators may need little, if any, extra training, others nay have weaknesses which when identified, could be corrected by training based on this code and guidance.
There are three types of training listed in the code:
BASIC TRAINING:
The basic skills and knowledge required for safe operation.
SPECIFIC JOB TRAINING
Knowledge of workplace and experience of any special needs and handling attachments.
FAMILIARISATION TRAINING
Operation on the job under close supervision.
AUTHORISATION
Employers should not allow personnel to operate lift trucks on any premises without written authorisation (except in the case of a trainee under close supervision). The authorisation should only be given for the type of truck for which all three elements of training have been successfully completed. The authorisation may be issued on an individual basis or held centrally by the employer. It should state for each operator the date of authorisation, the truck or trucks to which it related and any special conditions such as area limitations.
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974
DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES
Section 7(a)+(b)
7. It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:-
(a) To take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts of omissions at work;
(b) As regards any duty or requirements imposed on his employer or any other person
by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions. To so-
Section 8
8. No persons shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare in pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions.
MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGS 1999
Regulation 14 Employees' Duties
Employees are requires to follow health and safety instructions by using machinery, substances, transport etc. in accordance with the instructions and training they have received.
They must also inform their employer (and other employers) of any dangers or shortcoming in the health and safety arrangements, even if there is no risk of imminent danger.
