| Background
The
Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is implementing the Amending Directive to the
Use of Work Equipment Directive (AUWED) with two sets of regulations. This policy
document is the response by The Greencore Group to Part III of the Provision and
Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) addressing the risks associated
with mobile work equipment, which includes rider operated lift trucks.
Part
one The
selection and recruitment of lift truck operators
Lift truck operators
must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
All lift truck operators must be of
a stable disposition with a mature sense of responsibility. Occupational
Health Screening
All
lift truck operators and potential lift truck operators should be screened for
fitness before employment and at five yearly intervals from age 40. Any lift truck
operator who continues to work for the company after the age of 65 must have annual
medical assessments for fitness. A medical assessment is recommended after an
absence through illness greater than one month or after a shorter absence when
the absence may have affected fitness to operate lift trucks. Additional
factors to be considered when selecting handicapped lift truck operators
Each
person's fitness for operating a lift truck must always be judged individually.
Some handicapped workers have developed skills, which compensate for their disability.
However, the person's competence in an emergency should always be considered.
Possible
medical impairments
An
experienced lift truck operator who loses a limb or part of a limb may be able
to continue employment after suitable retraining. Lift
truck operators must be able to hear instructions and warning signals, using a
hearing aid if necessary. Epilepsy
will not automatically be a bar to lift truck operation where an individual qualifies
for an ordinary UK driving licence (i.e. has not had a seizure for two years).
Any necessary medication must be maintained, and a recurrence of seizures must
result in a reassessment. Account must be taken of the effects from the use of
flashing lights on lift trucks. Part
Two The
selection of lift truck training providers.
Employers
have a legal duty under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 to provide adequate
instruction, training to any employee who operates machinery or equipment. Anyone
who operates a lift truck however infrequently is considered in law to be an operator
and therefore requires adequate training. Far too many companies mistakenly believe
that testing and certification or licensing of operators is all that is required.
There is no such thing as a license to operate a lift truck and in the absence
of such a license Greencore Group will ONLY utilise the services of accredited
training providers as defined by the Health and Safety Executive. It is the Site
Directors responsibility to ensure compliance with this requirement. Additional
guidance is provided at Level 2 & 3 of the Greencore Group. SHE Management
System. Recognised
Accrediting bodies
The
Health and Safety Commission published a voluntary system of accrediting bodies.
Whilst it is not mandatory in law for operators to be trained by an accredited
training organisation such as the Road Transport Industrial Training Board (RTITB)
the Health and Safety Commission do recommend that accredited bodies are used.
Accredited bodies all produce their own standards, which are regularly monitored.
Individual training providers and instructors are NOT accredited or approved by
the HSC. Definition
of a Registered Lift Truck Instructor
The
Greencore Group have used the RTITB model as an example for producing this policy
document. However, any of the five accredited bodies (e.g. the Construction Industry
Training Board CITB) are equally acceptable. An
RTITB Registered Instructor
Is
someone who has been trained at an accredited Centre, has been independently examined
by RTITB, passed the examination and applied for registration as an instructor
AND NOTHING MORE? Registration has to be renewed every five years. An
RTITB Accredited Training Provider
To
ensure the maintenance of standards, RTITB Accreditation has to be renewed every
year by way of RTITB independent inspection and appraisal of;
- The
provision of safe and adequate facilities and equipment
for either "ON
or "OFF" site lift truck training - Examination,
certification and training records
- All
training provided by RTITB qualified and registered instructors (as above)
Bibliography
"Approved
Code of Practice and Supplementary Guidance for Rider Operated Trucks- Operated
Training" (COP26) published by the Health and Safety Commission. "Safety
in Working with Lift Trucks ", guidance published by the Health and Safety
Executive 1992. HSE
guidance, "Managing Vehicle Safety at the Workplace"
Free leaflet
available from HSE Books Tel 01787 313995. The
RITITB Blue Book, "Recommendations for the Training of Lift Truck Operators
and Instructors". First published as the RTITB "Red Book" 1972.
Available from RTITB Services Ltd, High Ercall, Tel 01952 777 788 | 
