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CONSTRUCTION HEALTH & SAFETY CONSULTANTS &TRAINERS CONSULTANTS &SAFETY HEALTH CONSTRUCTION WWW.CALLSAFE-SERVICES.CO.UK ISSUE 214 • APRIL 2021 editorswelcome Welcome to the April 2021 edition of • The road to Grenfell - A disaster they All of our face-to-face courses are also Callsafe Today. knew would happen available in the Live Online Training format • New NASC TG20 now available for organisations wishing to book courses Summer is coming; just not here yet! for their staff as an “in-house” course, but Training with delegates participating from various Articles & News Callsafe are still not providing of face-to- locations (home). Included within this edition are the face training due to our risk assessment following articles and other news provided still not considering this to be reasonably Are You Prepared? by the government, the construction practicable. We are still offering our Callsafe are ready to assist organisations industry and health and safety e-learning courses, which are listed on with the arrangements for opening up again publications, and selected by the editor, page 25 & 26, and are available on our post-Covid. See page 21 during April. website at: www.callsafe-services. co.uk/e-learning. Best wishes • 8 common forklift truck hazards managers should look out for We have now developed our platform for Dave Carr • HSE launch the Stress Talking Toolkit for providing Live Online Training, with or first Editor | Callsafe Services the construction sector offering as a public course being the APS • Does the equality maxim of ‘gender accredited CDM2015 Awareness Course, neutrality’ put women at greater health as advertised on pages 24 and 25. The first and safety risk? of the live on-line training courses have • IOSH Interview - Peter Baker, Chief been provided as an in-house course to Inspector of Buildings one of clients, with favourable responses. A Yardley House, 11 Horsefair, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 2EJ T 01889 577 701 E [email protected] W www.callsafe-services.co.uk callsafeservicesltd @callsafesvcsltd callsafe-services-limited 3 8 common forklift truck hazards managers should look out for The Safety & Health Practitioner overhead obstructions, crucially, it is weight (load plus packaging and pallet) Magazine (SHP) published on 13th the operator who is responsible for and net weight (load only) and never April 2021the following guidance the safety of any pedestrians in their exceed the truck’s capacity. provided by forklift training provider vicinity. Therefore, it is vital that the Mentor, revealing some of the most operator always completes these Managers should also ensure that common areas of bad practice that checks before they move their truck or operators complete one manoeuvre managers should look out for and raise/lower their load. at a time while carrying a load. For promptly stamp out. example, turning with an elevated One of the main causes of serious load is a common contributor towards Managers are responsible for workplace accidents and fatalities is tip-overs, because the higher the load, overseeing many aspects of lift truck being hit by a moving vehicle, so be the less stable the truck, and adding operations on site, most importantly, sure to monitor standards and ensure the momentum of a turn dangerously ensuring that everyone is working that operators carry out their all- shifts the truck’s centre of gravity. safely. But what do good and bad round observations every time, and Instead, the operator should turn then operating practices look like? Here do so properly (i.e. really look, not just lift (not turn and lift). are a few of the most common turn their heads). examples of dangerous practice that 3. Inadequate pedestrian segregation unfortunately still persist on sites. Any 2. Unsafe load transportation issues like these, that put safety at risk, Pedestrians and forklifts must should be resolved immediately to Managers must ensure that operators always remain a safe distance apart, reduce the risk of serious and costly continue to operate as per their especially in areas where they cannot accidents. training and not allow bad habits or be physically separated. Pedestrians, shortcuts to take root. whether colleagues or visiting drivers, 1. Insufficient observations Loads should always be secured, and Regular weight evenly distributed on the forks. all-round Not only can insecure loads fall and observations injure those in the vicinity, the sudden are vital to loss can also affect stability and cause safe forklift the truck to tip over. operations. Not only will Watch out for overloading too, as this they alert the can also lead to lost loads and tip overs. lift truck driver Make sure that your forklift operators to debris or know the difference between gross 4 should not be permitted to help with to everyone who may need to access 5. Not wearing seatbelts loading/unloading and should never an area where forklifts operate, try and steady a load, as they will put however rarely this may be. This The HSE is clear in its guidance: themselves at risk of trapping injuries includes staff, contractors, visitors and “Where restraining systems are fitted or being hit by the truck or the load, delivery drivers. they should be used.” should it fall. 4. Poor visibility when operating a truck Forklift operators may prefer to not Tragically, injuries to pedestrians wear them but the fact is seatbelts caused by lost loads are almost always Operators may be tempted to pile up significantly reduce the consequences avoidable because the pedestrian their loads to reduce the number of of an accident. If the truck was to should never need to be in the trips required. Even if the weight falls become unstable and tip over, a operating area in the first place. Should within the truck’s capacity, high loads seatbelt will stop the operator from a forklift lose its load with no-one in can obscure the operator’s view of being thrown from the cab, or trying to proximity, the worst-case scenario is their surroundings, increasing the risk escape: which can lead to them being damage to your stock or equipment of them colliding with other vehicles, trapped under the truck. – not ideal, but far preferable to the pedestrians or racking. devastating consequences should a Adding seatbelts to company policies pedestrian become involved. Make sure that operators are travelling makes their use mandatory on site with a clear view, so that they can stay and managers should reinforce this Putting robust, reinforced Safe alert to any surrounding risks. If their through regular monitoring, refresher Systems of Work in place, will help view is obscured by the load and they training, on-site signage, etc. to maintain safe working distances. cannot travel in reverse, then they Communicate these systems should use a banksman to guide them. 5 6. Misusing equipment or using the 8. Dismounting incorrectly Equip managers with the right skills wrong equipment Lift truck operators can become These common hazards are just a few All too often, avoidable accidents complacent during mounting/ examples of risks which managers occur when unsuitable equipment is dismounting, simply due to the must target to help protect your used to complete a task. A common frequency that this is done every day, team and your business. By regularly example is using a forklift to raise a and may be tempted to jump from monitoring operations and making colleague, either on the forks or by the cab. But this increases the risk of time for proper supervision, those lifting a pallet or makeshift cage, rather slips and falls, and also adds additional overseeing your operations can guard than a purpose-built work platform distance between them and their cab, against unsafe practice, proactively attachment or MEWP. potentially putting them into the path rectifying any bad habits day-to-day. of another vehicle. Managers should also look out for According to the HSE’s ACOP (L117), cases where operators are using Managers should ensure that all supervisory staff should be able to: equipment in ways it was not designed operators are using the 3 points of • Carry out effective observations to be used. For example, lift trucks are contact rule: when entering or exiting and know what to look for. built to lift loads, not push them. a truck, keep either one hand and two • Communicate effectively with feet or two hands and one foot on operators and line managers. Ensure that operators have access to the truck at all times, until seated or • Recognise unsafe practice and the correct equipment for the task and stood firmly on the ground. Mentor’s behaviour. understand the importance of using 3 points of contact poster provides a • Maintain and promoting health and it in the way it was designed to be handy reminder to operator’s on site. safety standards. used, to protect themselves and their colleagues. 7. Speeding Operational pressures, tight deadlines and high demand can influence some operators to compromise on safety in an attempt to save time. But rushing comes at a high cost when it increases the risk of tip overs or collisions. Even a dropped pallet causes delays and disruption when you factor in clean up, aisle closures, stock replenishment and repairs, and that’s if no-one is hurt. Check that operators are aware of speed limits on site and that they understand the need to stick to them at all times, regardless of any operational pressures. 6 HSE launch the Stress Talking Toolkit for the construction sector Developed with the help of Stress, depression and anxiety industry stakeholders, HSE are the second biggest cause has published a Work-related of work-related ill health in Stress Talking Toolkit for the the construction industry.

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