Give us some control, FLTA tells HSE
August 28th 2007 The ForkLift Truck Association is urging the HSE to give it more control over the messages being issued to the materials handling sector.
Speaking at a press briefing in July, the FLTA’s John Chappell said that while legislation increases year on year, many firms are “working in the dark” with regards to health and safety.
“Where do you get health and safety information from? And when you do find it, how do you know it’s up to date?” he asked. “The problem with guidance notes is that they can be interpreted in many different ways, so standardising industry practice can be a nightmare.” FLTA Chief executive David Ellison added that although there is a huge amount of legislation, it is riddled with grey areas, and that many areas are not specific enough to be meaningful. “For example, a dumb waiter is covered by the same legislation as a tower crane, which leaves the users with a problem.”
To address the issue, the FLTA is developing a new comprehensive website due to launch in the last quarter of this year. The association says it will enable users to find up-to-date health & safety information much more quickly. Another useful feature is a Virtual Risk Manager tool for forklift truck operator driving assessment that highlights where drivers need attention.
While the association praised what appears to be a more ‘carrot-based’ approach to HSE field inspections, Chappell said inspections still tend to be reactive rather than pro-active, adding that he had never heard of anyone being prosecuted for not having a Thorough Examination certificate. He said the FLTA is now in discussions with the HSE regarding Thorough Examinations’ legal status.
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For practical solutions to the real safety issues facing forklift owners and operators, the FLTA’s National Safety Conference takes place at Warwick University on 27 September. For further details and booking information visit:
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