Have you done what you can to promote safety?

As part of its Year of Safety campaign, Toyota Material Handling UK has exclusively provided Handling & Storage Solutions with a guide to forklift safety for warehouse managers & operators





Toyota has launched the Taking Care with Toyota campaign in 2012 arguing that for customers product is no longer sufficient.




Customers are increasingly demanding the back up of strong service and support and a positive impact on health and safety. Here, Toyota provides a guide to help warehouse managers & operators maximise forklift safety.




Have I done everything possible to minimise risk and promote a culture of safety?
Whether a leader or business manager, you are ultimately responsible for accidents in the work place. You decide what training is given to which operators. You control what equipment is provided to carry out the job.




But have you considered your supervisors and managers? The Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) requires that you ensure supervisors are properly trained. Supervisors do not need to be fully trained operators themselves.




However, they do need to be aware of all risks involved and how to minimise or avoid them.




Some basic training in risk assessment and health and safety management should be considered for supervisors.




Correctly trained managers and supervisors are not only essential for a safe working environment they will also have a direct impact on the bottom line.




Toyota Material Handling offers a comprehensive training course, which will guide your supervisors and managers through regulations such as:
The Health And Safety At Work Act 1974, (HASAWA 74); The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, (PUWER 98); The Lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations (LOLER 98).




It also covers recommendations for employers when selecting forklift operators, with advice on young operators under the age of 18, the three stages of training, (Basic, Specific and Familiarisation), the keeping of records, and the issuing of written authorisation.




Each process is broken down and explained in detail to your managers and supervisors, understanding their responsibilities and enable them to deal competently with day to day situations.




Managers and Supervisors require a comprehensive knowledge of lateral and longitudinal instability, while understanding terms such as a "load centre" and the "rated capacity", will greatly assist them in their day to day supervisory roles and help them carry out comprehensive risk assessments, ensuring best practice is at the forefront of your business.




In order for Supervisors and Managers to identify poor operating practices, that may result in a serious incident, they need to be shown the correct operating procedures that apply, a presentation along with DVDs, highlighting correct procedures within a working environment.




These recommendations have been compiled from years of experience, and cover a wide range of subjects such as, negotiating a slope or incline when loaded and unloaded, approaching blind corners, carrying high loads, and the consequences of ineffective supervision.




The course will also help the managers and supervisors understand the importance of maintaining forklifts safely, through daily inspections.




It is the operator's responsibility to carry out the inspection, as they are the first line of defence, should they find any faults they are advised to report it to their supervisor or manager.




Following the inspection report, your supervisors and managers will be able to identify the main components of the forklift.




Supervisors and managers will receive a demonstration on the correct method of entering and exiting the forklift truck, using the three points of contact, followed by:
Correct starting procedures.




Travel position for the load forks.




Carrying out visual checks.




Moving off and stopping.




Parking the forklift safely.




The course concludes with the supervisors and managers, looking at various areas within your company, from general housekeeping, to the dangers of shrink wrap.




In terms of industrial racking, the instructor will explain the correct way pallets should be positioned, highlighting any poorly positioned pallets, the capacity of the racking, the importance of a regular inspection, and ensuring any damage is reported immediately.




Poor battery charging procedures can result in early battery failure, this can be extremely expensive, and advice is given on how to get the best from your battery, through correct charging procedures and maintenance.




Applying this best practice can also be a major contribution to driving down cost within your business.




Only when you consider every aspect of the use of forklift trucks within your business you can say: "I have done everything possible to minimise risk and promote a culture of safety."