There's still a lot to be done when it comes to reducing forklift accidents in the workplace. The UK is constantly improving its health and safety record, but the fact remains that one quarter of the injuries sustained in factory environments involve forklift trucks in some way. That's quite a staggering indictment of the way that these machines are used and supervised.
A lot of the problem seems to stem from the lack of competence of drivers. By law, drivers should complete an exam ever three years to make sure that they're up to scratch with their skills, but in practice many companies try to cut corners by hiring people that aren't up to date on their qualifications. The result is that not only drivers, but working pedestrians, are injured. In fact collisions between forklifts and other workers is the number one accident involving these machines.
Using unsuitable equipment is another primary factor in accidents. An example of this is with tyres. Hard tyres are suitable for indoor use, but won't work well out of doors. It's also important to think about the loads that forklifts are being made to carry. An oversized load is not only unstable, it also increases the momentum of the forklift, making it much harder to brake in time if a sudden hazard appears.
The design of a working area can really affect how safe it is to use with forklifts. There are many serious crushing a
Using unsuitable equipment is another primary factor in accidents. An example of this is with tyres. Hard tyres are suitable for indoor use, but won't work well out of doors. It's also important to think about the loads that forklifts are being made to carry. An oversized load is not only unstable, it also increases the momentum of the forklift, making it much harder to brake in time if a sudden hazard appears.
The design of a working area can really affect how safe it is to use with forklifts. There are many serious crushing a
Using unsuitable equipment is another primary factor in accidents. An example of this is with tyres. Hard tyres are suitable for indoor use, but won't work well out of doors. It's also important to think about the loads that forklifts are being made to carry. An oversized load is not only unstable, it also increases the momentum of the forklift, making it much harder to brake in time if a sudden hazard appears.
The design of a working area can really affect how safe it is to use with forklifts. There are many serious crushing accidents from forklift toppling as a result of uneven surfaces or objects placed in their path. Lighting is also paramount, with dark spaces making it hard to react to hazards. There need to be appropriate speed limits set and enforced at all times, to ensure that drivers aren't cornering too quickly.
Finally the forklifts themselves need to be well maintained. Poor lifting mechanisms lead to a lot of accidents, with crushing injuries to drivers and bystanders being a major cause for concern. Treat the machines well to get the best out of them.
About the Author:
The design of a working area can really affect how safe it is to use with forklifts. There are many serious crushing accidents from forklift toppling as a result of uneven surfaces or objects placed in their path. Lighting is also paramount, with dark spaces making it hard to react to hazards. There need to be appropriate speed limits set and enforced at all times, to ensure that drivers aren't cornering too quickly.
Finally the forklifts themselves need to be well maintained. Poor lifting mechanisms lead to a lot of accidents, with crushing injuries to drivers and bystanders being a major cause for concern. Treat the machines well to get the best out of them.
About the Author:
Accident at work compensation in on the rise, make sure your business is up to scratch so you don't have to pay out.