National Forklift Safety Day 2024

We are proud to have supported National Forklift Safety Day this year, which has taken place over different days across a 7-month period.

The initiative has been supported by the slogan ‘Prevent – Manage – Learn’ and began on Tuesday 11 June. Each month has focused on a different stage of the forklift incident cycle: Prepare, Respond, Investigate, Report, Restart, Learn, and Prevent. A specific strategy for each stage was explored to promote the safe use of material handling equipment.

Here’s an overview of the key points of the campaign…


Prepare (Tuesday 11 June)

Preparation is a critical first step in reducing the likelihood and severity of forklift incidents:

• A competent person should conduct machine pre-use checks and regular maintenance
• Ensure that operators are well-trained and competent and only allow authorised people to use the equipment. The three key steps for training should be followed: basic, job-specific, and familiarisation
• Emergency procedures and rescue plans should be in place
• Remember STOP—Stop, Think, Organise, Proceed

Respond (Wednesday 10 July)

Even in the best-managed workplace, accidents are possible.

Emergency plans should include:

• Contact list of employees and others who can help
• Responsibility definitions
• Employees who hold relevant skills
• Directions to where first-aid materials are kept
• An evacuation plan

If you are confronted by an accident with an injured person, you should follow these steps:

1. Raise the alarm – getting assistance is the first priority
2. Make it safe - don’t become an additional victim
3. Provide first aid if you are trained to do so. Don’t put yourself at risk
4. Secure evidence - preserve the scene and ensure nobody destroys any evidence
5. Keep a record of the accident, e.g., photographs, audio recording
6. Do not speculate
7. Provide emotional support for everyone involved

Investigate (Thursday 08 August)

During an accident investigation, the investigator should:

• Identify the final position of the load, forklift truck, and any lifting accessories.
• Seek eyewitnesses
• Take photographs of evidence
• Access CCTV footage
• Decide whether to suspend operations pending investigation

The forklift equipment must be thoroughly examined by a competent person under LOLER 1998

The rest of the forklift truck, including steering and brakes, should be inspected by a qualified technician, with findings sent to the investigator

If employees need to be interviewed, the investigator must:

• Record exactly what the witness says
• Ask the witness to read the statement or have it read aloud
• Request the witness to sign and date the statement if satisfied with its accuracy
• Provide a copy of the statement to the witness

Report (Friday 13 September)

Reporting accidents is paramount to not only safety but also to ensure legal compliance.

Reporting accidents is crucial for safety and legal compliance. Under RIDDOR (Reporting of Incidents, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations), employers must report serious injuries, fatalities, accidents involving public hospitalisation, and dangerous occurrences (e.g., equipment failure or contact with power lines). LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) ensures safe use and maintenance of material handling equipment, requiring inspectors to report findings to the relevant enforcement agency.

Reporting checklist:

• Notify a manager/supervisor with key details of the event
• Record the incident by completing a report form and logging it in the company accident book
• Report serious incidents to the HSE
• Follow up with staff, monitor the situation, and track improvements

Restart (Saturday 12 October)

Before restarting operations, you should:

• Ensure the equipment is safe and suitable for use
• Review previous accident and near miss reports to address common factors
• Revisit your risk assessment, operating procedures, and training material
• Instigate change - if change is required, always document and explain, as failure to do so could be taken as acknowledgement of guilt
• Consider whether additional training or refresher training is required
• Look after your people - let them know what is happening and what is expected of them
• Adopt a blame-free culture where staff feel comfortable sharing concerns

Learn (Sunday 10 November)

When operations recommence, businesses need to learn from what happened and implement positive changes to create a safer workplace

Key contributing factors and solutions include:

• Malfunctioning equipment - schedule routine maintenance, conduct regular inspections, and develop a plan for replacement of outdated equipment
• Inadequate training - provide ongoing training, refresher courses, and updates for new equipment or procedures
• Ineffective segregation - use clear signage, install physical barriers, and carry out regular safety reviews
• Poor warehouse configuration - add speed limit signs, use a warehouse management system, and install additional lighting

Prevent (Monday 09 December)

Reporting a near miss requires a proactive approach from everyone who works with or around material handling equipment.

Steps to remember:

• Encourage – make reporting easy and rewards
• Involve – seek input from all employees and provide feedback
• Investigate – find out what happened and why
• Improve – focus on improving systems and procedures rather than blaming individuals
• Review – ensure changes are enacted and effective

Good management will result in adopting a blame-free culture where employees feel valued and motivated to report hazards.

Thorough health and safety training is crucial for incident prevention and near-miss reporting. New employee inductions should include training on near misses and unsafe situations. Additional training should be provided whenever process changes occur due to near miss investigations.

For more information on how we can support you with your forklift truck training, please contact our team today.