Checking For Safety

The forklift pre-use checks are an important part of any operators daily routine. A competent operator is the best placed individual to identify any potential defects to the employer, enabling problems to be rectified before they become a danger to Health and Safety.

The procedure for checking a forklift for potential defects is covered during a candidates test process. A candidate is observed carrying out the pre-use check by an examiner and questioned on his ability to identify potential faults. The process is designed not only for accident prevention but can help the owner of the lift truck avoid expensive repair bills and Health and Safety investigations such as the one reported by the HSE here. In the reported instance the carriage bearings had failed: a fault that could have been identified during the operational checks.

This video is a truck that we encountered during training. The body of the truck is supposed to be mounted securely to the chassis!

The pre-use check procedure requires the operator to carry out a number of visual checks of the mast, together with all of its lifting components, the wheels and tyres before carrying out function tests of the mast, steering, drive and braking systems and the horn and lights.

A Counterbalance Check Sheet

The pre-use checks should be recorded on a daily check sheet. The training provider can normally provide these to suit your needs. It contains all of the elements that should be inspected on a daily or pre-use interval. The elements to be checked are defined by the manufacturer and industry standards.

The check sheet is a useful means of ensuring that no critical components are overlooked, faults are reported to the appropriate authority and that a record is kept to illustrate to the Health and Safety Executive that the relevant regulations are being complied with.

Always consider the importance of using an accredited company when choosing a training provider. The RTITB and ITSSAR accreditations held by Alba Forklift Training ensures that all operators are trained in the conduct of the pre-use checks.

Contact us if you would like a copy of our check sheet for any particular lift truck.

Restricted forklift applications often overlook lifting at height

Restricted applications often overlook the need for training forklift operators to work at height. Quite often the nature of forklift operations means that this important element of training is overlooked. In smaller warehousing situations a forklift might be provided for the purposes of loading and unloading multi drops from delivery vehicles. In some environments such as machinery installation the majority of forklift operations involve ground level lifting with the occasional requirement to sling machines from the forks. More often than not the need to work at height is never considered.

A recent accident reported by the HSE highlights the importance of training forklift operators to appreciate the additional precautions to be taken by forklift operators when working at height. 2 operators were removing redundant machinery from a mezzanine level. As the forklift driver raised the forks to allow his colleague to attach a sling on the mezzanine

A mezzanine safety gate arrangement

his fork tip caught a bracket on the safety gate. Unaware of the situation he continued to raise the forks until the strain sheared the bracket. The fork shot upwards with such force that it caused a double skull fracture, facial fractures and a fractured eye socket when it hit his colleague.

A training course conducted at an accredited forklift training centre will prepare a forklift operator for the hazards associated with working at height. These hazards are not only the forks: their height and distance from objects in front of the truck but also overhead objects such as cable ducting, pipes and beams as well as the stability issues associated with a forklift with an extended mast.

To ensure that operators are trained in all aspects of safe operation, always use an accredited provider and where site conditions don't permit lifting at height, consider the benefits of sending them off-site to an approved forklift training centre.

New E-Bay Store

Alba Forklift Training are pleased to announce that interested candidates can now puchase their training on-line through the Alba Training E-Bay Store.

This means that trainees can now fund their training with a wider variety of options using PayPal. If you see training on our website that interests you but is not available through our E-Bay store then please let us know by e-mail to andy@albatraining.co.uk

MANAGERS FAILED BY COMPANY OVERSIGHTS

Many companies that operate forklift trucks are failing their managers with potentially serious ramifications as a direct result of lack of training.

The work equipment regulations, in effect since 1998 were quite clear that operators of forklift trucks required training, common sense really. The same regulations also specified the same requirements of managers and supervisors.

Regulation 9, Part 2 of the PUWER Regulations state:

‘Every employer shall ensure that any of his employees who supervises or manages the use of work equipment has received adequate training for health and safety purposes, 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.’

While companies have addressed the issue concerning the training of their operators as competent individuals, many are overlooking the importance and legal requirement surrounding the training of their managers and supervisors.

Consequently managers and supervisors are overlooking potentially fatal bad practices. Employers have a legal duty to ensure adequate supervision where work equipment is in use. As a result it is critical that managers/supervisors are safety aware when it comes to:

• Basic principles and load handling limitation
• Site conditions and operating limitations
• Traffic/pedestrian management requirements
• Risk Assessment
• Maintenance and inspection requirements
• Storage, stacking and racking limitations
• Common causes of accidents in UK industry

With the introduction of new corporate manslaughter and homicide regulations in 2007 company directors are inadvertently exposing themselves to prosecution in the event of an accident as a direct result of inadequate training.

Alba Forklift Training offer Safety Awareness courses geared towards managers and supervisors to help employers meet their legal obligations.

Alba Forklift Training is accredited by RTITB and ITSSAR, two of the largest HSE recognised accrediting bodies. With over 30 years instructing experience in the materials handling industry we believe we are in a position to offer the most professional solutions and advice to our customers.

For more information on this course and the Instructor/Operator courses we also offer please contact us on 01236 630300.