Safer Site Essentials THREE: Site

The environments in which your trucks and people work is a big factor in eliminating risk.

Here are the main elements to consider.

Remove Layout and Design Risks

• Try and segregate pedestrians and trucks as much as possible, and make sure any crossing points are clear and well signposted
• Aisles should be wide, free of obstacles and ideally one-way
• Consider speed and the use of wall-mounted mirrors to enhance visibility
• Minimise the need for reversing and ramp use where you can
• Provide high levels of lighting and ventilation
• Provide separate spaces for truck parking and maintenance
• All sites must be kept clean, tidy and well maintained

Train Non-Operators

Most of the people injured in fork lift truck incidents are not operators.

To ensure your site is as safe as it can be you should consider some training for those who work in the same areas as fork lifts. This will help them understand the practical issues faced by operators and how they can help minimise the risk to themselves and others.

Encourage Ownership and Reporting, and Enforce Standards

Encouraging your workers to make suggestions and acting upon them will give everyone a sense of ownership and involvement in your safety practices. Enforcing standards with regular refreshers and written materials is a must, as is encouraging people to freely report issues and incidents.

Helpful Reading

• Hazard perception tests
• Site safety checklist
• Grahame Robb report on common causes for concern