 Healthy workplaces: Good for you, good for business
November 15th 2010
Up to 20% of all workplace accidents in Europe each year are thought to be directly related to maintenance issues. David Ellison, chief executive of the Fork Lift Truck Association (right) explains the important role of maintenance in running a healthy workplace.
Just as fork lift truck users depend on service engineers to provide them with safe equipment, so service engineers depend on their customers to provide them with safe workplaces. This interdependence is one that should never be taken for granted.
Healthy Workplaces, the European campaign on safe maintenance, aims to raise awareness of the high risk of serious injury, or even death, as a result of poor maintenance practices and related issues. The campaign, which will run through to November 2011, has been coordinated by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work with the backing of both the European Parliament and European Commission.
The Fork Lift Truck Association fully endorses the aims and objectives of this important campaign, and will continue to do so long after the official closing event.
Healthy trucks, healthy site Companies across all industries invest in fork lift trucks, either by direct purchase or contract hire, to perform a particular task. In practice the user is only interested in performance levels. And a fork lift truck makes it all look easy – effortlessly lifting a couple of tons time after time. But appearances are deceptive. A fork truck’s work is not effortless and working parts need to be routinely cleaned, lubricated, cooled, adjusted or replaced. This, however, takes time and resources to achieve.
Without proper maintenance, things can go dramatically wrong in the workplace, creating a very unhealthy environment. Poor maintenance can lead to excessive fumes, unpredictable performance, oil and hydraulic fluid leaks. At worst, a chain may fail with catastrophic results. This is, however, a very rare occurrence and extremely unlikely in properly maintained and inspected fork lift trucks.
Neglecting your fork lift truck will ultimately cause break downs. Once this happens, it’s incredibly difficult to move a truck safely. It could be blocking an aisle (or worse) and is likely to screw up operations until a service engineer arrives.
True, there is no guarantee that regular scheduled maintenance will prevent all breakdowns... but it will certainly help. Moreover, it will significantly reduce the instances and impact of the other risks mentioned above. Importantly, taking this step enables you to plan for downtime and minimise its effect on your organisation’s operations.
Taking a proactive approach to your fork lift trucks is good for your trucks, your site and your business.
However, as a user, don’t stop reading here. You have a duty of care to anyone who works on your premises – including service engineers who bring all sorts of hazards...
The Healthy Workplaces campaign guide identifies many that are commonly faced by visiting service engineers from physical hazards such as slips, trips, falls from height and equipment related accidents to chemical, biological and psychosocial hazards.
Any service engineer employed by a Fork Lift Truck Association Member has access to Health and Safety guidance, generic Risk Assessments and Technical Bulletins. He will know how to identify and assess risks in the workplace. Importantly, he’s aware that he may need to ask for assistance from his customer to provide himself with a healthy workplace. This is where the interdependent connection between service engineer and customer is crucial.
Your service engineer needs some essential facilities to carry out his work safely. In an ideal world there will be a properly equipped workshop, but at the very least, he will need:
• A designated working area – preferably under cover and well away from traffic and other working areas.
• Sufficient space to allow free movement around the truck and for any equipment that may be needed, such as ladders.
• Sufficient heat, light and ventilation in an area that is dry, reasonably clean and free of vermin etc.
• Access to a toilet and washing facilities.
A service engineer brings his skill, his knowledge and his tools to your site, but he depends on fork lift truck users to provide for his physical well-being while he is working on site.Provide a service engineer with a healthy workplace and he will provide your entire workforce with a healthy workplace. It’s good for you. It’s good for business.
Keep informed
The Fork Lift Truck Association Safe User Group provides a simple, cost-effective way of obtaining practical guidance on legislation, health and safety and best operating practice.
Developed with the interests of fork lift users in mind, Safe User Group Membership provides your with the information you want – and need – in a form that’s relevant, clear and concise. Timely updates whenever the law is updated or best practice alters ensure you’re always kept up-to-date.
Benefits of membership
• Reduced-price entry to FLTA events, including National Fork Lift Safety Conference.
• Discounts on course bookings and catalogue purchases.
• Unlimited online access to health and safety resources.
• Safe User Group Forum membership.
• Regular Health & Safety updates.
• Technical bulletins.
• Independent helpline.
• Quarterly newsletter.
• Safety alerts.
• Discounted specialist publications.
• Framed certificate of Membership.
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