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While a forklift licence isn’t mandatory to drive a forklift in the UK, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) state that operators of forklift trucks must be adequately trained in their operation. Though the nature of the training is unspecified, it is still vitally important to provide operators with quality training under a duty of care to help protect workers and facilities. The following 5 steps, while not exhaustive, should help to provide a solid framework from which to develop an excellent forklift safety record. 1, Establish a strong forklift training policy Declare a minimum standard of training that your operators will need to achieve prior to operating a forklift. If you lack the resources to set up an appropriate program within your facility, an authorised training partner should be able to provide courses appropriate to the level of training required by your workforce, from initial training to refresher courses for more experienced operators. Any costs incurred during the enhanced training should be worth it in the long run through the increased levels of safety and efficiency in the workplace. 2, A forklift truck is not a toy This may sound obvious; however it is vital to instil respect for what can be very dangerous machinery within the work place. Even the most experienced operators can suffer a lapse a judgement that could see them racing down corridors or attempting other inappropriate manoeuvres. 3, Ensure your operators are fit to operate their machinery Many accidents occur due to tiredness or sickness of the operator, so it is vital to ensure your forklift operators know to inform you if they feel unable to operate their equipment safely. Whilst this may cause an inconvenience in the short term, it’s not worth putting both the operator and your other workers at risk. 4, Establish an effective maintenance schedule Ensure regular maintenance is undertaken on your forklifts to help keep potential breakdowns to a minimum. Where an unexpected fault occurs, ensure that any necessary repairs are carried out swiftly to prevent both accidents from further malfunctions and potentially a bigger repair bill as the fault worsens. 5, Maintain open channels of communication with your operators By keeping in regular communication with your operators you should be able to ensure that any ongoing unsafe practices that you may have been previously unaware of are reduced and eradicated. Even if there is nothing of this nature to report they may be able to provide vital feedback on how to maintain higher standards of safety and how any ongoing training programs can be improved.
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