Accidents in the workplace is top of the agenda for many organisations: how to improve the process, limit risks and ensure the management and their workforce recognise, comply with and adhere to safe working practices are all key areas of concern.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that in 2004/5 there were 150,559 workplace injuries resulting in a total of 7 million working days lost.
The report does not identify accidents that are attributable to any particular type of equipment being used, for example earth moving equipment, road vehicles or indeed lift-trucks, but upon discussions with the HSE they confirmed that in 2005 there were 2,566 reportable accidents directly involving lift-trucks.
Legal Requirements
It is a legal requirement for all companies to take responsibility for the safety of their employees. In the case of lift-truck operators this means training and certification on the specific types of machinery they are required to operate.
Whilst an up to date licence is a prerequisite for an operator, the development of good driving standards will not only maintain safety in the workplace but will also pay dividends in improved efficiency and will consequently deliver higher levels of overall profitability.
The Health and Safety Commission has recognised several accrediting bodies to help set and maintain professional training standards, in order to assist employers to select training organisations or lift-truck suppliers who can offer a high standard of training.
There are several regulations that need to be adhered to, including:-
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1988 (PUWER)
- Approved Code of Practice for Operator Training (ACOP)
All the above stipulate that adequate information, training and supervision must be provided to employees involved in the operation of lift-trucks.
The cost of these accidents to employers is enormous. The HSE reports that sick pay alone costs employers £310 million a year. On top of this employers lose between £780 - £4,310 million each year as a result of damage to goods and machinery, and between £2,970 - £5,580 million a year as a result of output losses.
If we total all costs resulting from workplace accidents, employers lose between £2.4bn and a staggering £6.4 billion a year.
