Forklift safety: managers ‘often weak link’
Many managers know less about forklift truck safety risks than the employees they supervise. That's the claim from the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA), whose chief executive David Ellison says that busy managers are "too often the weak link", lacking the necessary awareness to implement and enforce safe working practices.
Ellison says that the risks faced by British workers are influenced significantly by the decisions of their line managers, many of whom are very busy with several areas of responsiblility. "Often, [these managers] have had no formal forklift truck safety training, and as a result are less able than their employees to understand potential risks, or spot dangerous working habits."
The FLTA is holding its annual Safety Week next month (20-26 September) and is offering a free pack of safety resources, vouchers and information, downloadable from its website at www.fork-truck.org.uk.
As part of the activities for Safety Week, the Association is holding its national safety conference on 22 September at Warwick University. Keynote speaker is John Spanswick CBE of the Health and Safety Executive.