Report to reveal forklift safety shortcomings

Mentor FLT Training is to release ‘Forklift Safety Insights’ — a new report on ways to improve site safety after its recent survey revealed the troubling realties of forklift operations today.

Survey respondents were taken from a sample of UK businesses operating forklift trucks on site. As well as forklift use, the survey investigated key areas, such as manager and operator training, safe systems of work, segregation, monitoring, and operating environments.

“Our survey found that almost half of those overseeing forklift truck operations have not had any formal training on how to do so,” said Stuart Taylor, Managing Director of Mentor FLT Training. “A significant proportion of whom have no prior experience as an operator either.”

“While managers aren’t required to be certified operators, the absence of any relevant training in the risks surrounding forklift use is particularly worrying. Especially given their responsibility for the welfare of your most valuable asset — your workforce.”

“Another concern was the one third of respondents who said their operators had not received all three stages of training required by ACOP L117. Not only is this dangerous to the operator, who has received insufficient training, but it puts colleagues who work around them at risk as well. And, if an accident were to occur, the business would be liable.”

As well as insufficient training in the industry, the report also reveals major room for improvement when it comes to site segregation.

“One in three survey respondents said that on their site, forklifts and pedestrians operated in the same area with no segregation between them, hugely increasing the risk of accident, not to mention the chances of a serious injury,” said Stuart. 

Mentor’s report will focus on the industry’s areas for improvement highlighted by the survey, and offer clear, effective solutions to help businesses reduce risk and ensure safe, productive and profitable sites.

“There are often simple, cost-effective measures that businesses can take which massively reduce the risk of accidents on site.” said Stuart. “The survey definitely highlights some problem areas, but the report is designed to help managers and operators understand the pitfalls and avoid the same mistakes.”

Mentor’s ‘Forklift Safety Insights’ report will be launched on 1st October, in support of the FLTA’s National Forklift Safety Month, and will be available to download from the Mentor website.