Forklift Safety: Now Is No Time for Complacency

Over the last few years, the UK has seen vast improvements in forklift safety and the number of workplace accidents involving forklift trucks. Total accidents and injuries are down while working in and around forklift trucks has never been safer. However, according to SHD Logistics, the improvements in forklift safety have levelled off.

Rather than continuing to see steady improvement, SHD says that things this year have not changed all that much. While that is good news inasmuch as forklift accidents have not increased, there is concern that complacency might be setting in. We hope that’s not the case.

When it comes to safety in the workplace complacency is always a concern. Employees who no longer actively consider safety issues are more prone to accidents. And unfortunately, complacency can quickly spread from one employee to the next. Before long, the entire workplace can find itself in a scenario where the next big accident is just waiting to happen.

According to SHD, forklift safety involves everyone, from drivers to company managers to trainers. It even includes those workers who may be in the environment without ever actually sitting behind the wheel of a forklift truck. Safety requires every member to do his or her part on a daily basis.

At the HGV Training Centre, our part is to provide the best possible forklift training to both individual and company drivers. Our forklift training encompasses many different aspects, including:

• Forklift Manoeuvres – Manoeuvring a forklift truck in and around tight spaces is one of the more difficult parts of the job. In many environments, there are certain spaces where there is just enough room to get a loaded forklift through. In other environments, there may be limited room for loading and unloading cargo.

• Load Balancing – Every forklift has a tipping point. What’s more, that tipping point is drastically affected by how cargo is loaded onto the forks. We train drivers how to properly balance loads to avoid tipping accidents.

• Balanced Control – Safely operating a forklift requires a delicate balance between both driving and cargo handling controls. Safe operation is the result of smooth movements that are free of sudden starts and stops, jerking movements, and anything else that could throw the balance of a load off.

• Environmental Awareness – It is easy to be so focused on the load that a driver fails to pay attention to what’s going on around him/her. We teach the importance of environmental awareness as a means of avoiding accidents.

In the UK, there is no legal requirement for forklift driver training or certification. However, one of the things that has led to the reduction in workplace accidents is a self-imposed requirement among companies that operate forklifts. If your company owns and operates them, you should consider making the workplaces safer by utilising appropriate training and certification for your drivers. The HGV Training Centre is here to provide your drivers with the training they need.