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Safety Drive 2021

Week 2 – Training

Safety is an essential part of any operation and we are committed to sharing the latest innovations and good practice advice through our latest campaign – UKMHA Safety Drive 2021. This week we focus on training and the vital role it plays in keeping your operation and staff safe.

Operator Training
Employers have a legal duty to ensure that operators of materials handling equipment have received adequate training.

  • Trained operators are less likely to be involved in a collision with other vehicles, pedestrians or objects.
  • They are less likely to cause damage to the equipment, reducing downtime and cost of repair
  • Improved operator performance will increase productivity.

There is no such thing as a forklift licence, so before authorising any employee to operate a truck, the employer must ensure proper training has been completed to guarantee competency.
Competence requires:

  • BASIC TRAINING – such as provided by a third-party training provider. This will include an explanation of safety systems and truck stability, but, by itself does not ensure competence.
  • SPECIFIC JOB TRAINING – covering the actual truck, loads and site. This should include site conditions, rules and hazards, and instruction in load handling and safe systems of work.
  • FAMILIARISATION TRAINING – supervised practical experience of specific work activities.
  • REFRESHER TRAINING – Operators, even those who are trained and experienced, need to be routinely monitored in the workplace and, where necessary, retested or refresher trained to make sure they continue to operate lift trucks safely

Safety Training for Managers and Supervisors

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations require employers to ensure that every employee who supervises or manages the use of work equipment has received adequate training for purposes of health and safety. This includes training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail, and precautions to be taken. Supervisors should monitor for, recognise, and intervene when unsafe practices or behaviour occur.
Training can be tailored to your operation offering, a bespoke solution for your specific needs thus:

  • Enabling managers to assess and control workplace risks, increasing safety in your business and reduce the risk of injury and prosecution.
  • Increasing productivity, as fewer hours are lost to incidents and accidents.
  •  Improving the safety culture in your organisation through a top-down approach.
  • Enhancing your reputation by embedding safety across your business.
  • Developing existing staff by offering them career progression within your organisation and improving staff retention.

Continuing Professional Development

Training should be extended to co-workers and pedestrians, and all site visitors should be made aware of safety guidelines, such as PPE requirements. All training should be ongoing to ensure staff maintain good practice. Refresher training builds on existing capabilities and offers the opportunity to identify areas for improvement.

  • Enables staff to maintain good habits and learn new skills.
  • If a member of staff has been involved in an accident or near-miss, refresher training can be used to identify cause and prevent future incidents.
  • Particularly useful for staff returning after lengthy periods away from work or occasional users of equipment.
  • Increase staff retention and loyalty by investing in your staff.

Training is vital to maintaining a safe working environment and it is important that this is kept up to date with changing legislation, changes in equipment or premises and changes to staff and roles. By ensuring everyone in your organisation is trained they can all play their part in keeping themselves and each other safe.

Safety Drive Week 2 Sponsors

We’d like to thank all of our sponsors so far for their commitment to safety and assistance in this campaign. To sponsor this event please click here to find details.

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