Helping you be part of the solution

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) used the 2013 Fork Lift Truck Association Safety Conference to challenge the materials handling industry to take on a greater role in tackling health and safety issues. Philip White, head of operational strategy at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and keynote sparker at the 2015 FLTA Safety Conference, told attendees that it was 'heartening to hear of the work you are doing and that industry was successfully taking ownership of health & safety'.

"There is a deregulation agenda," said White. "But this must be achieved without safety and standards slipping. Everyone has responsibility for safety. Furthermore, there is a danger in over-complicating health & safety. What we are seeing is a simplification of regulations, not a weakening, so deregulation is not a danger in my opinion."

HSE is currently operating with a budget that is 40% smaller than it was in 2011, making industry engagement essential to maintain the steady progress of falling deaths and injuries. But despite the cut in funding and initiatives such as Fee For Intervention (FFI), White rejected any suggestion that HSE was 'out chasing the money'.

"FFI is targeting high risk areas. There was an independent review of FFI which found HSE was acting fairly according to a 'polluter pays' principle, and not using it as a revenue generating mechanism," explained White.

There is no revenue target for FFI. The original estimate was for £36 million per year, but figures have not reached that level.

There are still around 8 deaths per annum associated with forklifts and 55% of these are characterised as 'struck by vehicle'.

White said this must be lowered and challenged company directors, asking are you really walking the talk?

"Staff attitude to management is affected by actions of management," he said. "I advise you to look outside your sector to see how other businesses tackle issues, for example how they learn from near misses, and how they foster a culture of open-ness and learning."

White also placed emphasis on occupational health, stressing that more people die each year thorough health issues than accidents, with issues around MSDs, manual handling, lifting, noise, fumes and dust all significant in workplace transport.

Workplace transport

Every year, there are accidents involving transport in the workplace, some of which result in people being killed.

People are knocked down, run over, or crushed against fixed parts by vehicles (eg HGVs, lift trucks and tractors), plant and trailers. People also fall from vehicles – whether getting on or off, working at height, or when loading or unloading.

What do I have to do?

Think about whether there is an easier, safer way of doing the job. Your risk assessment must consider all workplace transport activities such as loading and unloading. It will help if you:

Look carefully at all the vehicles and people moving round your workplace.

Mark the traffic and pedestrian movements on a plan so you can see where pedestrians and vehicles interact.

Identify improvements that will reduce the contact between pedestrians and vehicles.

Remember to include less frequent tasks, eg waste skip changes.

Make sure you consider delivery drivers as they are particularly vulnerable.

How can I do it?

Consider each of the following areas:

Safe site

• Plan your workplace so that pedestrians are safe from vehicles.

• Provide a one-way system if you can.

• Provide separate routes for pedestrians and vehicles where possible.

• Avoid reversing where possible.

• Provide appropriate crossing points where pedestrians and traffic meet.

• Use ‘Highway Code’ signs to indicate vehicle routes, speed limits, pedestrian crossings etc.

• Make sure lighting is adequate where people and vehicles are working.

• Make sure road surfaces are firm and even.

• Make sure there are safe areas for loading and unloading.

• Try to provide separate car parking for visitors as they may not know your site.

Safe vehicle

• Ensure vehicles are suitable for the purpose for which they are used.

• Maintain vehicles in good repair, particularly the braking system, steering, tyres, lights, mirrors and specific safety systems.

• Remove the need for people to climb up on vehicles where possible, eg by providing gauges and controls that are accessible from ground level.

• Reduce the risk of falling when people have to climb onto a vehicle or trailer by providing well-constructed ladders, non-slip walkways and guard rails where possible.

• Provide reversing aids such as CCTV where appropriate.

• Fit rollover protective structures and use seat belts where fitted.

Safe driver

• Train lift truck operators.

• Reassess lift truck operators at regular intervals, eg every three to five years, or when new risks arise such as changes to working practices.

• Train drivers of other vehicles to a similar standard.

• Make sure all drivers are supervised (including those visiting the site).