2012 Accident Underscores the Need for Proper Forklift Training

Back in the autumn of 2012, a 27-year-old agency worker was operating a forklift truck while the vehicle’s clamp attachment was raised. The truck eventually turned over and crushed the driver, causing serious injuries that required the man’s spleen be removed. Today he still suffers the effects of the accident by way of a lower quality of life.

The employer in question did not provide appropriate forklift training because the worker was not a permanent staff employee. The company decided not to offer training as a means of cutting costs. They now face more than £27,000 in fines and other expenses as a result of the accident. Ironically, a basic training course for the operator would have cost no more than a few hundred pounds.

Companies all over the UK are at risk of the same kinds of accidents every single day. Why? Because it is easy to get around workplace safety regulations when it comes to forklift driver safety. Yes, employers are required by law to provide a safe operating environment for all workers, but applying the safe environment rule to forklift operations can be sketchy.

The law currently does not require a special licence to legally operate a forklift. Companies are free to provide training as they choose, as long as they ensure each operator has at least a basic understanding of forklift safety. Moreover, while more and more companies are insisting on training and certification, there are still many that do not.

Here at the HGV Training Centre, we cannot emphasise enough how important forklift training is. Forklifts are heavy vehicles that become inherently unstable when fully loaded. An untrained operator can find him or herself in trouble far too easily, leading to serious injuries and deaths.

What We Teach

The forklift training courses offered by the HGV Training Centre cover a long list of important components. For example, we train drivers in the following:

• Load Balancing – How a load is balanced on the forks largely determines how stable the vehicle and its load will be. It is not enough to simply slip the forks under and go. Drivers need to know how to load in order to prevent losing the load or tipping over.

• Smooth Operational Control – Operating the forks smoothly is one of the biggest challenges for the forklift driver. If movements are not smooth, loads can easily be dropped or damaged. We teach smooth operational control through hands-on experience and classroom instruction.

• Vehicle Manoeuvres – What do most work environments involving forklifts have in common? Tight spaces and other workers. Therefore, it is important that forklift operators know how to manoeuvre their vehicles safely. They have to get in and out of tight spaces, operate around other workers, and do all it as quickly and efficiently as possible.

If you are interested in forklift training for yourself or your workers, the HGV Training is more than happy to help. Our training is very affordable and easily accessible.

Sources:

MWH Magazine – http://www.mhwmagazine.co.uk/NewsArchive/2014/May/Company_pays_high_price_for_not_training_forklift_truck_driver_says_RTITB-16195.html