Tag: forklifts|safety|warehouse

Tuesday 8th June 2021 is National Forklift Safety Day, and the UK materials handling industry is once again being encouraged to get involved, share guidance and take action to make sites safer.

Now in the UK for its third year, National Forklift Safety Day will be hosted by the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA), which comprises the industry’s leading trade associations: BITA and the FLTA.

This year, National Forklift Safety Day will highlight the role of Thorough Examinations, and why regular inspections are key to ensuring businesses are using safe equipment.

As the industry’s accrediting body for Thorough Examinations, CFTS has been working closely with UKMHA to develop insightful resources that will be shared as part of the event.

CFTS Chairman Geoff Martin explains: “National Forklift Safety Day runs fantastic campaigns every year, and we are proud to support UKMHA in raising awareness about Thorough Examinations.

“There is a lot of confusion about what work equipment owners need to know and do in relation to regular inspections and checks. But by sharing information as widely as possible through this event, we hope to provide clarification and guidance.”

A key message this year is the difference between maintenance or services, and Thorough Examinations.

“There are certain legal requirements with a Thorough Examination,” adds Geoff. “Under LOLER regulations, the lifting equipment must be inspected in detail, and PUWER regulations require that safety-related items, such as brakes are assessed as well.

“Thorough Examinations can only be carried out by a suitably qualified Competent Person who has been trained to inspect the equipment and is under a legal obligation to report dangerous defects. It is important that owners and users are sure they are receiving the right examinations, as insufficient inspections leave them open to risk of accidents.”

The National Forklift Safety Day campaign provides a wealth of practical tips and free downloadable materials available via the website: www.nationalforkliftsafetyday.co.uk/2021-thorough-examination/

The Fork Lift Truck Association, part of UKMHA, is once again reminding businesses around the UK to take a hard look at safety on site, and asks: Are you doing as well as you should be?

Creating a lasting safety culture — where best practice behaviours and actions are embedded in day-to-day operations — should be the top priority of any site.

UKMHA Chief Executive Tim Waples explains: “Safety requires commitment. It’s that simple. If management is seen to act, and implement change, a workforce will be reassured and inspired to do the same.

“Investing in safety is an investment in the business and its future. You are more likely to see financial gains if you have a strong safety culture in place. Safety is not just common sense, it’s good business sense.

“A prime example is our 2019 FLTA Safe Site Award winners Kellogg’s. They invested hugely in making an old and complex site safer, but recognised that toolbox talks, staff meetings and constant engagement were what really made the difference.”

Here are just a few suggestions and tips for kickstarting a journey towards a better safety culture:

Set positive goals: Instead of focussing on lagging indicators, i.e. what businesses don’t want to see, think about leading indicators, which are the things a company wants to see more of. Set targets then make them happen.

Don’t be complacent: Smart organisations look for areas of improvement and risk, then put controls in place to resolve issues before serious problems occur.

Involve and inform staff: In great safety cultures, every employee has a working knowledge of health and safety topics, and they know their roles and responsibilities.

Have an open-door policy for reporting issues: Create an environment where constructive criticism is welcomed, and where reporting is not merely guilt-free but praised. No-one should fear they will be ignored or — worse still — punished for coming forward, and nothing should be swept under the carpet.

Continue to communicate: Keep safety alive through every channel available and make sure that safety is top of the agenda when new recruits are inducted. Achieving high participation rates will provide encouragement and momentum for future initiatives.

To support the industry in improving safety standards, the FLTA created the Safe User Group. Members receive access to invaluable tools, exclusive resources, case studies with actionable tips, and advice on easy, affordable site improvements. For more information on joining SUG visit www.fork-truck.org.uk/safe-user-group