Latest News

  • Enter the LEEA Awards 2023 to celebrate your excellence
  • Jungheinrich UK goes mobile to transform the carbon footprint of its engineer audits
  • Yale launches new identity focused on Lift Truck Technologies
  • Some good news in GB Spring Budget, but Government must do more says UKWA Chief
  • Short-term space is critical to a successful warehouse strategy
  • Home
  • News
  • Materials Handling
  • Health & Safety
  • Notice Board
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Book Review
    • T.V.
    • Video
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Linked
    • Youtube

“Casual’ forklift training poses serious risk to businesses” warns RTITB

Oct 11, 2015 Warehousing Ireland Health and Safety, Materials Handling, News Comments Off on “Casual’ forklift training poses serious risk to businesses” warns RTITB


According to the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE), some businesses allow lift truck “training” to simply be carried out by a forklift operator, who may or may not be correctly trained themselves, rather than using professional lift truck instructors. RTITB warns of the dangers of ‘casual’ training and confirms best practice.

“Forklift training should be delivered by an instructor who is trained and qualified, as clearly outlined in the Approved Code of Practice for Rider Operated lift truck guidance (L117) from HSE,” says Laura Nelson, Managing Director of leading workplace transport training accrediting body, RTITB, explaining that good quality training is crucial in helping to prevent accidents in the workplace.

The HSE has expressed that improperly trained “instructors” are an ongoing problem that must be tackled. To encourage safe work environments, comply with HSE guidance and reduce the possibility of accidents, businesses are urged to ensure that they employ or contract properly qualified instructors to train their operators. By not doing so, business owners and warehouse managers expose themselves to risk of prosecution, particularly in the event of an accident.

Last year, for example, the HSE reported* that a North Lanarkshire employer was fined £24,500 for safety failings which led to a worker being killed after he was thrown from a forklift truck and crushed. The employee had not received any formal training on driving forklift trucks; he had been given about 20 minutes’ in-house training. There are several similar reports on the HSE website, which could have been avoided with the correct training carried out by a qualified and competent instructor.

“It is true that a good forklift operator can make the best instructor, and there are many benefits to training up an operator who is already familiar with your operation to become an instructor,” Laura continues. “But they do need to complete their instructor training to make that transition. Instructor training consists of more than just the forklift operating skills.”

Lift truck operator training can be carried out in-house or at a training centre. Delivered by a qualified instructor it offers a number of benefits, such as heightened safety, improved efficiency, increased margins due to reduced equipment and product damage, and confidence amongst operators.

As well as knowing how to operate the equipment, a qualified instructor knows how to plan and prepare courses, give practical instruction, assess and test an operator’s skills, and has a solid and up-to-date understanding of any relevant legislative frameworks. A skilled instructor also understands whether a struggling trainee requires a boost in confidence or motivation. All these additional skills are taught via proper accredited instructor courses.

Impartial examinations are used to test the abilities of candidate instructors and to ensure RTITB qualified instructors perform to the highest industry standard. This means that employers and trainees can be confident in the skills and ability of an RTITB qualified instructor.

“Due to the stringent process and impartiality, passing an RTITB examination is something candidates can be truly proud of,” Laura Nelson adds. “The current national pass rate is over 80%.”

RTITB lift truck instructor courses can be purchased from a network of RTITB accredited providers or from the RTITB Instructor Academy. The courses take just 10-12 days to complete and can be undertaken onsite at the training provider’s premises, or at a dedicated training centre.

To enrol on an RTITB instructor course a trainee should hold a certificate of Basic Operating Skills for the specific machine type, completed in the last 12 months. RTITB also recommends that candidates provide evidence of at least six months’ industrial operational experience to enhance their application, as instructor positions are competitive.

Tweet

  • tweet
Order for 60 MOFFETT truck-mounted forklifts from US S&D MEPs call for clearer labelling of traditional products

Warehousing Ireland

Related articles
  • Enter the LEEA Awards 2023 to celebrate your excellence
    Enter the LEEA Awards 2023 to celebrate...

    Mar 24, 2023 Comments Off on Enter the LEEA Awards 2023 to celebrate your excellence

  • Jungheinrich UK goes mobile to transform the carbon footprint of its engineer audits
    Jungheinrich UK goes mobile to...

    Mar 24, 2023 Comments Off on Jungheinrich UK goes mobile to transform the carbon footprint of its engineer audits

  • Yale launches new identity focused on Lift Truck Technologies
    Yale launches new identity focused on...

    Mar 24, 2023 Comments Off on Yale launches new identity focused on Lift Truck Technologies

More in this category
  • Beaverswood has hazards and restricted area marking safely taped
    Beaverswood has hazards and restricted...

    Nov 05, 2022 Comments Off on Beaverswood has hazards and restricted area marking safely taped

  • Ideally-located & secure HGV storage & warehousing site for rent at Cranford, near Kettering
    Ideally-located & secure HGV...

    Jun 26, 2021 Comments Off on Ideally-located & secure HGV storage & warehousing site for rent at Cranford, near Kettering

  • tesa packaging tape brings food storage in from the cold
    tesa packaging tape brings food storage...

    Jul 07, 2019 Comments Off on tesa packaging tape brings food storage in from the cold


Tweets by @warehousingIrl

Recent Posts

UKWA National Conference: Why Digitalisation & Automation are Tools for Tough Times

UKWA National Conference: Why Digitalisation & Automation are Tools...

Feb 25, 2023 Comments Off on UKWA National Conference: Why Digitalisation & Automation are Tools for Tough Times

7-8 March 2023 – – Crowne Plaza, Stratford-upon-Avon Warehousing has been revolutionised by market forces that saw 17,145 high street shops close last year, with soaring energy...
New guidelines for high-quality paper carrier bags

New guidelines for high-quality paper carrier

Feb 12, 2023 Comments Off on New guidelines for high-quality paper carrier bags

Forklift market rebound causes gap between order intakes and shipments

Forklift market rebound causes gap between order...

Nov 24, 2021 Comments Off on Forklift market rebound causes gap between order intakes and shipments

The new Visuclean vinyl from Beaverswood

The new Visuclean vinyl from Beaverswood

May 01, 2021 Comments Off on The new Visuclean vinyl from Beaverswood

New Modulean Lite shadow boards from Beaverswood

New Modulean Lite shadow boards from Beaverswood

Nov 14, 2020 Comments Off on New Modulean Lite shadow boards from Beaverswood

Recent Posts

Beaverswood has hazards and restricted area marking safely taped

Beaverswood has hazards and restricted area marking safely taped

Nov 05, 2022 Comments Off on Beaverswood has hazards and restricted area marking safely taped

Quick and effective highlighting of hazards and restricted areas in industrial premises and offices is provided by yellow/black self-adhesive marking tape, now available from workplace...
RHA launches tail lift safety guidance

RHA launches tail lift safety guidance

May 15, 2021 Comments Off on RHA launches tail lift safety guidance

Axial Properties Ltd fined €80,000 following serious incident in Clonee warehouse

Axial Properties Ltd fined €80,000 following...

Nov 22, 2020 Comments Off on Axial Properties Ltd fined €80,000 following serious incident in Clonee warehouse

New Modulean Lite shadow boards from Beaverswood

New Modulean Lite shadow boards from Beaverswood

Nov 14, 2020 Comments Off on New Modulean Lite shadow boards from Beaverswood

How to safely buy a used ATEX forklift

How to safely buy a used ATEX forklift

Jul 12, 2020 Comments Off on How to safely buy a used ATEX forklift

Newsletter

Recent Posts

  • Enter the LEEA Awards 2023 to celebrate your excellence
  • Jungheinrich UK goes mobile to transform the carbon footprint of its engineer audits
  • Yale launches new identity focused on Lift Truck Technologies
  • Some good news in GB Spring Budget, but Government must do more says UKWA Chief
  • Short-term space is critical to a successful warehouse strategy
  • Warehousing: Do more in the Same Space to Protect Revenues
  • Arvato Supply Chain Solutions operates additional sites in the USA with green electricity
  • Doosan Bobcat’s new Global Brand Strategy: Forklifts & Portable Power branded Bobcat
  • Manchester self-storage facility destroyed by a major fire in 2022 will now be rebuilt with sprinkler system
  • How pallet live storage keeps grocery store shelves supplied 
  • UKWA submits proposals to Chancellor for Spring Budget
  • Clark presents new low-lift truck for light duty applications
  • BYD Forklifts: the perfect recipe for Devenish
  • UKWA National Conference: Why Digitalisation & Automation are Tools for Tough Times
  • Garbe Industrial Real Estate leases logistics property in Karlsfeld near Munich
Copyright 2020 Warehousing Ireland / All rights reserved