Training investment
April 11th 2008

As materials handling applications become ever more complicated it’s not enough to simply get in the right equipment. Companies also need to invest in operator training to maximise safety and productivity, as this report from Linde highlights

As warehousing operations get leaner and companies try to maximise available space through the use of high bay or very narrow aisle (VNA) warehouses, investment in the right materials handling fleet is just the first step.

To achieve the desired results, organisations also need to invest adequately in training for the operators of the fleet. For reasons of both safety and productivity operators must be professionally trained and certificated.

“Many large manufacturers and warehouse operators now demand much more than just the physical material handling fleet,” explains David Bowen, sales and service training manager of Linde Material Handling in the UK. “In addition to our range of highly innovative vehicles, we can also provide specialist technical support, fleet management services and driver training.”

Operator obligation

While modern materials handling equipment is inherently safe and fully compliant with a raft of legislation covering every operational and structural aspect, it is ultimately the operator who determines how safely and efficiently the equipment is used.

In the UK, the operation of material handling trucks is covered by three laws: Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; Provision and Use of Work Equipment Act 1998; and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Act 1998. Safety at work and compliance with these laws is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive.

This organisation requires companies to meet minimum standards in their operational procedures in order to ensure the safety of forklift operators and others working in the area. A large part of the health and safety requirements focus on the good maintenance of the vehicles. The other area of regulations requires the adequate training of the operators of material handling vehicles.

Talking about the potential dangers in the use of forklift trucks, HSE inspector Martin Baillie said: “Employers must ensure they assess the risks involved in any use of these vehicles and take appropriate steps to counter those risks. They must also provide adequate health and safety training for any employees operating forklift trucks.”

While the actual training provided is up to the discretion of individual employers all companies must have some sort of planned and documented operator training scheme in place. There are six accredited bodies in the UK that regulate operator training for material handling vehicles and together with the Health and Safety Commission they have developed Form 2000 a standard formal theory and practical skills test.

Organisations are under no legal obligation to follow the recommendations set out in Form 2000, nor for that matter need they provide accredited training, however it is hoped that Form 2000 will provide an industry benchmark that will ensure employers provide high quality training and employees feel safe in the workplace. Furthermore, with an industry standard such as this, it will be much easier for employers to tell that new employees are properly qualified.

Refresher training is also an important requisite for material handling operators.

Again, while there is no specific regulation regarding refresher training, it is generally accepted that operators should be given a refresher course every 3 to 5 years.

“While it is important to have refresher training programmes, employers also need to provide additional training when necessary,” explains Linde’s Bowen. “In particular, employers need to continually evaluate site accident and damage records to determine if refresher training is required. Furthermore, refresher training is always a good idea when purchasing new equipment, despite the apparent similarities between vehicles from different manufacturers.”

Linde offers a range of theoretical and practical driver training courses across the UK. From beginner level to instructor training, the company can ensure maximum safety levels are achieved. Linde also provides awareness courses to management and safety officers. Courses can be taken either at the Linde national network centres or on a customer’s site and range from £100 to £250 per day depending on the type of course, location and number of participants.

Comfort factor

“While most manufacturers and employers take operator training and safety very seriously, an area that is often overlooked is operator comfort,” Bowen says. “At Linde, operator comfort is a key concern during the design stage, in this way we can provide a superior level of comfort for the operator. With better visibility, reduced noise and less vibration, we enable the operator to work effectively and safely through a full shift.”

Certainly for many employers, operator comfort needs to take a higher priority as increased comfort contributes directly to both improved safety and higher productivity. With a comfortable work environment and high quality training for their material handling vehicle operators, employers can demonstrate a strong commitment to the overall health and safety of their workforce.

More articles from Linde Material Handling (UK) Ltd: