Yes, it will mean a financial investment, but ensuring anyone operating a forklift has the correct certification, is a legal safety requirement under Regulation 9 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98).
To acquire a recognised forklift certification (not a license), aka an RTITB Basic Training Certificate, potential forklift operators will be required to have a good understanding of the following:
Forklift controls and instruments
Operation of hydraulic controls
Manoeuvring the forklift, including starting, stopping, steering, and on/off ramp driving
Loading and unloading
Stacking and de-stacking
Forklift stability
The Operators’ Safety Code
Before driving any motorised vehicle, it’s important to carry out a basic pre-inspection, but when it comes to operating a forklift, a pre-inspection isn’t only recommended, it’s vital for your safety, and for the safety of those around you.
A basic, pre-operational inspection of a forklift is a visual check that mainly involves the operator having a walk around the forklift prior to operating, checking for things such as:
Oil leaks
Incorrect fluid levels (including fuel)
Damaged, overly worn or under-inflated tyres
Damage to the mast and/or lifting assembly
Overhead guard damage
Damaged or malfunctioning lights and gauges
Once in the vehicle, it’s also important to check the condition of internal controls, including:
The handbrake
Inching controls
Transmission
Hoisting and lowering controls
The horn
When operating a forklift, you must wear appropriate clothing, including:
A hardhat
A luminous safety vest
Steel toe-capped shoes
Eye protection (especially if you’re working on a construction site or chemical facility)
It’s also important that you don’t wear any loose clothing, as it could potentially snag on internal controls, or externally, on part of the lifting assembly.
When a car or similar vehicle runs out of fuel, it will come to a stop. With a forklift however, when it runs out of fuel or electric charge, its lifting capabilities can be seriously affected, creating a potential safety hazard.
To remove the risk of running out of fuel, always check fuel levels during your pre-operational inspection, and also let other operators know that they have a responsibility to ensure they leave sufficient fuel or charge for the next operator.
Each forklift is designed with a maximum lifting capability that should never be exceeded. You’ll find your forklifts maximum lifting capacity on the capacity data plate, usually located on the instrument panel, near the lifting controls.
If you’re looking for a company supplying new forklifts and used forklifts, as well as providing forklift servicing, contact Beds & Bucks Forktrucks Ltd today. We’re a leading forklift specialist, based in Buckinghamshire, and have over 30 years’ experience in the material handling industry.
