A construction company has been fined £10,000 after a worker suffered serious injuries when the forklift truck he was working on overturned, throwing him to the floor.

The company had carried out a risk assessment and method statement prior to the job commencing and had concluded that the work should be carried out by using a forklift truck and an attached man-riding cage.

The HSE’s findings were that the incident could have been avoided with the provision of more suitable equipment such as a cherry picker type Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP).

It is important to make sure you are using the correct equipment for the job.  If in doubt, we are happy to offer advice so please call us on 0800 024 8084.  As well as providing training on forklift trucks we can also provide training on MEWPs.

For the full story click on the link below.

https://www.rtitb.co.uk/news/construction-company-fined-following-serious-forklift-fall

Vetter (www.forks.com) produce a range of forks to suit various applications.  We discovered them at IMHX 2016 and thought we would let you know about some of their products:

• Big Forks – Cross section up to 350 x 150mm, blade length up to 4,000 mm, back height up to 2,000 mm and capacity up to 120 tons per pair.
• Swan-Neck Forks – safety and efficiency during palletless transports!  These protect the load, ensure a higher level of safety as the whole blade length is used an there are no overhanging goods and they make for quick and easy loading.
• Warning Bar – for use on a road.  Protruding forks that cannot be seen from a distance cause many forklift truck accidents in road traffic.  The red-white hatching on the warning bar is visible from a distance and provides a higher level of safety, especially in car parks, at exits and at night.  They are fitted using magnetic entry pockets.  When the warning bar is not in use it is attached to the truck using magnets.

• Manual Telescopic Forks – Fork and fork extension in one.  This allows transport of 2or 3 pallets at the same time.  The correct fork length must always be used to ensure a high level of safety.  These forks save significant time and cost compared to fork extensions.
• Folding Forks – Whether in road traffic, off road or in a confined space, folding forks can be used for a wide range of applications.

Are your forks the correct length?

Forks should usually be at least 75% of the load/pallet but if you are using mainly standard pallets and placing them into standard racking then your forks don’t need to be any longer than 1 metre.  1 metre is the depth of a standard pallet (1.2 metres x 1 metre) when picked up correctly on the wide face thus giving you a load centre distance of 500mm.

We go to many places where they are using lift trucks with forks that are just too long for the job.  This will make it harder for forklift drivers to manoeuvre in a racking system and can cause more damage to racking and product.

If you would like advice on which types of forks to use on your truck, please call us on 0800 024 8084 or e-mail info@stackerstraining.co.uk

A Company has recently been fined over £130,000 plus further costs after an agency driver lost a leg following an accident at its Slough depot.

The driver was pushing a trolley carrying parcels alongside a row of vehicles.  When he reached the end of the row, a forklift truck reversed out of a shutter door, striking the driver and trapping his foot in the rear wheel.

The HSE stated that the yard was not organised correctly to allow pedestrians to safely access vehicles that were parked on either side of the site.  The operator was found to have incomplete risk assessments for the lift trucks to load and unload and no physical barriers had been put in place to segregate pedestrians from vehicles.

For the full story click on the link below

https://www.rtitb.co.uk/news/company-fined-after-worker-loses-leg-in-forklift-accident

The HSE’s approved code of Practice and Guidance provides the following advice regarding pedestrians in the workplace:

• Where possible, prohibit pedestrians from areas where lift trucks are operating and only allow access to those who operate trucks or other equipment, or supervisors.  If this is not possible, assess the risks to pedestrians and, where necessary, provide ways to adequately control the risks:
  • separate pedestrian activities from areas where lift trucks are operating, where reasonably practicable. Use a physical barrier where possible;
  • define, designate and clearly mark pedestrian routes and crossing places;
  • provide sufficient clear and unambiguous warning signs to inform people that trucks operate in the premises or area;
  • display notices instructing lift-truck operators to sound horns at appropriate locations.  All warning and safety signs should conform to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

SEMA, the Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association is holding it’s Annual Safety Conference and Exhibition on Thursday 3^rd November at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull.

There will be ten speakers covering current statutory and generic product related topics illustrated by case study material on the theme of “Safety in the Storage Industry: Meeting Customers’ Expectations”.

SEMA’s president, Matt Grierson said “ SEMA’s 2016 safety conference is a must-attend event for end users who want to stay abreast of best practice and to find out how major organisations are leading the way”

New products and information will be on display from leading storage suppliers in the break-out areas.  The event starts at 9.30 am, includes a buffet lunch and costs £135 + VAT.

For more information on the safety conference, click on the link below:

http://www.sema.org.uk/events/safety-conference

Overhead power lines should be at a minimum clearance from the ground of 5.2 metres (17 feet).  However, live equipment fitted on poles may be as low as 4.3 metres (14 feet).

If a machine or other conductive item of equipment comes into contact with a live overhead electricity power line, electricity will be conducted through it to earth. You do not need to touch the line, as in some circumstances electricity can flashover or arc (it can jump across gaps). Anyone touching a machine or equipment in these circumstances risks a serious or fatal electric shock.

UK Power Networks is urging extra vigilance and awareness of the risks of coming into contact with or getting too close to overhead power lines.  Their free leaflet can be downloaded here ’Think before you work on your land and you can contact them on www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/safety to order free vehicle cab stickers to remind you to “Look up, Look out!”

If you follow these simple safety precautions when operating machinery, it could save your life:

• Find out the maximum height and maximum vertical reach of your own and your contractors’ machines;
• Find out the location of underground electricity cables and overhead electricity power lines on your land.
• Contact UK Power Networks, or your local distribution network operator, for copies of plans showing where equipment is. They can also provide advice on line heights, minimum vertical clearance distances and precautions to take. Distribution Network Operators can also arrange to have the height of the lines checked. Operating voltages are displayed on signs attached to steel towers.
• Always tell visitors, contractors or casual workers where electricity cables and lines are positioned.
• Always check around you when loading or unloading vehicles or stacking materials.

If you come into contact with an overhead power line:

• Stay in the cab of the machine and lower any raised parts in contact with the line or try to drive the machine clear, if you can
• Inform the Distribution Network Operator immediately (display the telephone number in the cab or keep it on your mobile phone).
• Electrocution is possible if anyone touches both the machine and the ground at the same time. If you need to get out jump well clear so that no simultaneous contact is made between you, the vehicle and the ground. Do not touch any wires. Stay clear and warn others not to approach.
• Get the Distribution Network Operator to disconnect the supply. Even if the line appears dead, do not touch it, or any part of the machine. Contact with the line may cause the power supply to trip out temporarily and it may be reconnected and re-energised automatically, without warning.
• Never touch an overhead line that has been brought down by machinery, or has fallen, eg in a storm. Do not try to disentangle equipment, until you have received confirmation that the line has been de-energised and made safe.

Earlier in the year we wrote an article on the importance of carrying out daily checks – https://stackerstraining.co.uk/why-is-it-important-for-forklift-operators-to-carry-out-daily-checks/

We have now updated our pre-use check booklets and we have one for counterbalance/reach trucks and one for pedestrian stackers.  The booklet should be kept with the truck and once completed, they should be kept for a minimum of 6 months.

Each booklet contains 32 pages so will last just over a month if you are using just one page per day.

If you have more than one shift per day, we can customise the booklets to suit your requirements.

The cost of the booklets are as follows:

1 booklet = £2.50 + VAT

5 booklets = £12.00 + VAT

12 booklets = £25.00 + VAT

Please contact us on 0800 024 8084 to place your order or e-mail supplies@stackerstraining.co.uk

If you would like to see the booklets before purchasing, please ask one of our instructors as they will have some to show you.

James and I visited the IMHX 2016 Exhibition on Thursday 15^th September at the NEC, Birmingham.  It’s the UK’s largest logistics event and we were amazed at the number of exhibitors and variety of forklift trucks on display.

It’s a triennial event so the next one is in 2019 and we will definitely be visiting again.  IMHX is the only place where the industry’s largest players and suppliers come together under one roof to showcase their products and services.  It covered 5 halls of the NEC, an area the size of nine football pitches – no wonder my feet were aching at the end of the day!

Many of the major forklift truck manufacturers were exhibiting and they included:

• Crown
• Linde
• Hyster
• Jungheinrich
• Manitou
• Combi Lift
• Flexi
• Doosan
• Cesab
• Toyota
• Hyundai
• CAT
• Still

There was also:

• A future skills zone – highlighting the careers available to young people in Britain’s logistics sector.
• A Demonstration Zone – where intralogistics equipment was put through its paces
• An IT Pavilion – highlighting advances in this aspect of the supply chain
• A comprehensive seminar programme covering topics such as:
  • Logistics in a post Brexit world
  • Racking collapse – protection for the damage you don’t see.
  • How currency and fuel price volatility impact on the supply chain
  • Leadership and forklift safety training

The Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB) was also in attendance along with other accrediting bodies such as NPORS and ITSSAR.  The Fork Lift Truck Association and Fork Lift Action were also exhibiting.

James and I both agreed that there was too much to see in just one day but it was an enjoyable and informative event that we’ll both look forward to attending again in 2019.

Anne Marshall

Care should be taken when selecting potential forklift drivers and consideration should be given to the following (as per the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance published by the HSE).

• They should be reasonably fit, both physically and mentally, to safely control and operate lift trucks with the learning ability and potential to become competent operators
• They should be reliable and have a responsible attitude to work
• They should be over the minimum school leaving age (for more information look at hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/index.htm)

People selected to operate lift trucks should be free from disabilities, either physical or psychological, that might pose a threat to their own health and safety or the safety of others who might be affected by them operating lift trucks. Fitness for operating should always be judged on a case-by-case basis. A risk assessment should be carried out to identify any hazards associated with the job and working environment and to identify the areas of concern. Never allow anyone who is unfit because of alcohol or drugs (prescription or recreational) to drive a lift truck.

The HSE is not prescriptive about the need for medical assessment for fitness to drive lift trucks and there is no legislation relating directly to this topic. However, companies may choose to screen potential operators before placement and then follow the guidelines for Group 2 licences in the DVLA publication “At a glance” which require medical examination every five years from age 45, and every year from age 65 (in line with licence renewal periods). Always seek medical advice where there is any doubt about a person’s fitness to operate a lift truck.

Stackers Training can provide you with advice regarding a selection test for potential operators to avoid wasteful attempts instructing unsuitable trainees.

The above information is taken from the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice and Guidance.

One question that frequently arises is when should a forklift operator wear a hard hat. In most cases the operator is protected from large falling objects such as pallets or loads by the overhead guard but if carrying small objects which could possibly fall through the guard it is advisable for the operator to wear a hard hat.

Hard Hats should:

• Be in good condition. If it’s damaged, throw it away
• Fit the person wearing it and be worn properly
• Not prevent the wearing of hearing protectors as well (when needed)
• Only be obtained from a reputable supplier – there are fake hard hats on the market

The shell of a hard hat can be damaged or weakened if not looked after.

For example:

• Objects fall onto it
• It strikes against a fixed object
• It receives a severe impact
• Deep scratches occur
• It is sprayed with chemicals or solvent based paint

Inspect a hard hat and adjust it to fit you properly before each use.

Hard hats can be purchased from many reputable suppliers and all should conform to European Safety Standards to give you the protection you need.

My name is Tony Glover and I teach mechanical handling. When I think back, I seem to have always been teaching or training something. It started with canoeing soon after I left school.

From there, I went on to dinghies, powerboats, scuba diving and off shore yachting. I first started teaching mechanical handling in the late 1980’s. I teach on most mechanical handling equipment, from fork lift trucks to access equipment and cranes to specialist earth moving machines.

Driving several different machines each week is enjoyable but sometimes perplexing but after 25+ years, it does get easier. The interesting part of my job is to meet so many different people doing so many different occupations.

One day I’m in a garden centre, the next in an electronics company and the next in a steel works. Some of the trucks are new with computer screens and joystick controls. Others are nearly as old as me. (and you can guess which ones break down the least).

However, wherever I am, I find that putting people at their ease during training makes their life (and mine) much more relaxed.

I try to use my motorbike for work most of the year but when it gets too cold, I have an old 4×4. However, the heating in that packed up last year so if you see someone driving around wearing a winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf and a rug, it’s probably me!

Outside of work, much of my free time is taken up being the chairman of the parish council in the local village. Now, everyone knows me so if there’s a problem, I get to hear all about it, whatever the time.