While employers have a duty of care to those working within their business, it shouldn’t be forgotten that members of staff must also meet certain responsibilities for safety in the workplace.
Due to the nature of MHE and its role in transporting heavy loads, forklift drivers play a pivotal role in maintaining operational safety. Meeting their responsibilities is critical to their own safety and that of those around them, not to mention satisfying crucial standards for compliance.
But do your operators know what their responsibilities are? Without clear guidance and relevant training, operators may not understand exactly what is required of them and, crucially, how to put it into practice day-to-day. This leaves the door open for bad practice and complacency to develop.
Let’s take a look at some of the key requirements for forklift operators and how you can ensure your team is ready to meet them:
- Follow their training
In the UK, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) forms the basis for all UK Health and Safety Law. Under the Act, an operator must only use the equipment they have been trained to use, in the ways they have been trained to use it. If, for example, someone needs to remove a load from a racking location and there is a reach truck available, but they have only been trained on a counterbalance, they should not attempt to use it. It is the operator’s responsibility to operate truck types they have been trained on, and nothing else.
How to equip your operators: It’s therefore important that the appropriate training is provided, and to the relevant standard, as this is what operators should always refer back to, as the benchmark for safe working. As per PUWER 1998, this should include the methods they may adopt when using the work equipment, any risks involved and any precautions to be taken. Accredited training courses provide assurance that all necessary standards will be met for compliance.
- Co-operate with their employer
Next, a forklift operator must co-operate with their employer, and indeed anyone else, in all matters of health and safety. Failing to comply with best practice or site safety policies increases the risk of accidents on site, which can be both costly and dangerous for all involved. Under MHSWR 1999, operators must follow any Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) provided. Developed by their employer from risk assessments, SSOW are created specifically to ensure that employees can complete tasks safely, so it’s vital that they are followed.
How to equip your operators: Ensure processes and procedures are in place, communicated and reviewed to ensure operators have clear directions to follow. Regular monitoring must also be carried out to ensure they are adhered to, every time.
- Do not interfere with or misuse any H&S equipment
Furthermore, operators must not interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare. For example, if a section of the warehouse that an operator needs to access has been cordoned off, and they disconnect the cordon to gain entry to the area, they could be putting themselves and others at increased risk by removing this segregation.
How to equip your operators: Ensure that operators understand the importance of safe working and the potential consequences of their actions. Beyond basic operator training, Forklift Awareness courses, toolbox talks and the like can help to target the behaviour at the root of unsafe practice.
- Report any misuse of H&S equipment
Similarly, if an operator sees someone else misusing H&S equipment, they have the responsibility to report this. Any misuse witnessed should be communicated to their employer/manager so that it can be rectified.
How to equip your operators: Ensure operators understand the need to report bad practice, as well as the processes for carrying this out. They should be encouraged to do so, for the good of the entire workforce.
- Take reasonable care
Operators must take reasonable care of themselves and other people who may be affected by what they do, or by what they forget to do. They must understand the importance of following best practice and the consequences of their actions for themselves, others and the business. For example, moving a load through an area busy with pedestrians significantly increases the risk for those in the vicinity – instead, the operator should wait and ensure a safe distance from others is maintained.
How to equip your operators: Even trained operators can become complacent to risks over time, especially when working in roles where daily tasks may be repetitive. Ensure that they concentrate and remain alert to hazards by regularly monitoring operations and reinforcing safe operation.
Ensure the safety and compliance of your forklift operators
When it comes to workplace safety, it’s vital that your operators understand what is required of them and how to put it into action, day after day. By providing them with valuable training and guidance, you can ensure they are suitably equipped with the skills and knowledge to recognise and meet their responsibilities for safety at work.
Remember, this isn’t just good practice, providing relevant training it a necessity, enabling your team (and your business) to meet essential compliance standards and keep everyone protected and productive.
For complete assurance that training will cover all the relevant elements for your operators, look for a provider offering registered training to an accredited standard. All of our forklift training courses fall into this category, covering operators’ responsibilities for safety and the best practice to follow to ensure they meet them.
Operators already trained? Regular refresher courses and monitoring are just as essential to nip any bad habits in the bud and keep complacency at bay. Maintaining a safe workplace is a continuous cycle so make sure you have ongoing plans in place to ensure everyone stays on top of their responsibilities in the long term.
To find out more about accredited forklift training for your operators, call us today on 01246 555222 or contact us here