Top tips for forklift safety

Scafftag, a specialist in the management and communication of equipment status, has outlined four key steps to follow to help reduce forklift truck accidents: Step 1 - Risk assessment: Managers must complete a risk assessment of forklift truck operations to adequately control the risk and to ensure that safe systems of work and records are maintained, documenting and assessing all the hazards that each worker could potentially come into contact with.

Step 2 - Identify when it's safe to use and when not to be used: Daily checks should be carried out before use to record whether the forklift truck is safe or unsafe to use. Step 3 - Training: Managers must ensure they provide information, instruction, training, retraining and supervision to employees as necessary.

Step 4 - Maintenance: As well as daily checks, regular maintenance of forklift trucks should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.