Have you seen a recent growth in waste operations across your site?

We have seen a large increase of training requests coming in for forklift training with waste-specific attachments such as rotating forks, fork rotators and bale clamps and fortunately for our customers, our training experts are on hand to provide guidance on course lengths, support in identifying the training requirements and in some instances even advise on the types of attachments and their category.

Support and advice has always been a key part of the service to our customers and helping ensure you get the right training on your site is our priority. Below are key areas that we believe must be considered to help keep sites safe for all.

Has the type of waste you receive on your site changed and are the attachments on your machines fit for purpose?
Are there any non-banded products on your site now? Products such as tyres may present a number of issues due to their awkward shape and size – they have the potential to shift during transportation if they are not secured evenly. Ensure operators understand the importance of clear vision and drive at a sensible speed to avoid any unwanted tipping or flipping from an unusual load.

Are you needing to move more waste than usual? If you are maneuvering waste such as heavy bins, it is crucial to always check the weight of the load to prevent to load from falling from the truck or causing the vehicle to tip.

Are you aware of the impact of using in-correct attachments?
Changing an attachment will alter the characteristic of the machine and the lifting capabilities of the forklift The most common attachments utilised in the waste industry on a forklift truck include bale clamps, fork rotators and rotating forks; this allows for one piece of machinery to carry out numerous tasks for an efficient and cost-effective solution. Always make sure attachments are fit for purpose, for example – if you are moving baled waste – a clamp will securely lock the waste whereas the waste may slip between rotating forks, cause debris to fall in transit and potentially damage the equipment or causing an injury.

Do you assess your surroundings?
Ensure that there is a clear, segregated route between the forklift trucks and other plant machinery or pedestrians particularly if your site is carrying out more tasks than usual. Forklifts may come into contact with pedestrians on site so operators should always be mindful of their view when driving the truck and any pedestrians that may walk into the blind spot.

We continue to provide a dedicated service to all and importantly, if you have any questions about training, standards and compliance associated to the use of equipment, please get in touch today - our team of specialists are happy to help provide the information that you need.