Prevention News

Forklift safety compliance campaign

An increasing number of workplace injuries, accidents and unsafe work practices involving forklifts has prompted NT WorkSafe to run a campaign during May 2006 involving maintenance records and forklift licensing to encourage industry to comply with Work Health legislation.

The message of forklift safety requires greater attention throughout some sectors of the business community. A key message of the campaign is to remind employers of maintenance of plant and licensing of operators.

Many companies only react when they have had an accident, and unfortunately that’s too late from the regulatory point of view, and from the person who may have been injured or killed. Russian roulette is not an option where safety is concerned nor the attitude of ‘it’ll never happen to us’.

Forklifts are one of the most commonly used pieces of workplace equipment and these powerful heavy machines require maintenance, skill and training to operate them safely. There is little room for error and because of the nature of accidents involving forklifts NT WorkSafe will be taking a zero-tolerance approach when breaches of the safety laws are identified.

The Work Health (Occupational Health and Safety) Regulations states:

An employer shall ensure that plant used at a workplace, so far as practicable, does not pose a risk to the health and safety of a worker or any other person.

A link to the Work Health (Occupational Health and Safety) Regulations can be accessed on the Legislation page.

Australian Standard AS2359.2 (1985) Powered Industrial Trucks prescribes the requirements for the operation, maintenance, repair and modification of industrial trucks as defined by AS1763. This standard is an authoritative source of fundamental principles for application by responsible and competent persons and organizations.

The requirements in the Australian Standard AS2359.2 (1985) Powered Industrial Trucks deals with qualifications of operators and identification of authorized operators placing the responsibility on the user to only authorize employees having adequate skill, qualifications, knowledge and sense of responsibility.

AS2359.2 has been adopted by the Work Health Authority by gazettal notice as an approved code of practice thus acquiring legal standing in the Northern Territory.

The following is a sample daily checklist that can be used:

• Forklift – Daily checklist