Mentor forklift training course targets unsafe working behaviour

A new course from Mentor Training is to focus on the dangers presented by forklifts in the workplace.

The Safely Working with Lift Trucks course promotes a safe working environment by targeting the behaviour at the root of bad practice. 

30 delegates in one day can benefit and at minimal cost to businesses. The course targets anyone on site whose work involves forklift trucks – be they operators, supervisors or staff working in close proximity.

According to HSE figures, pedestrians are just as at risk as operators, if not more so. Mentor Managing Director Stuart Taylor said: “Sixty per cent of those injured by forklift trucks were ‘on foot’ at the time of impact. Unlike operators, many working alongside forklifts are unaware of the risks they pose and, more importantly, how to reduce them.”

Taylor added: “Whether working at a factory or warehouse, shipping depot or construction site, many of the duties undertaken by workers on and around forklifts are highly repetitive. These types of tasks can result in lapses in attention and a decline in proper working procedures.

“Worse still, if left unchecked, these bad working habits can quickly spread through a workforce, creating a workplace where dangerous behaviour is the norm. So it is imperative, for the health of the workforce and the site, that a safe, positive working culture is cultivated and maintained.

“Even trained and experienced forklift drivers can overlook the dangers and fall into bad habits. Our new Safely Working with Lift Trucks course refocuses everyone’s attention: ensuring that everyone on site is aware of the hazards presented by forklifts, as well as the safety, practical and financial benefits to be gained by upholding safe working practices.”

He continued: “To maintain a safe working culture, the whole workforce must be part of your training plan. If everyone is on the same page, and has the same positive attitude towards creating a safe environment – be they pedestrian worker, forklift operator, or manager – you will see lasting results; to morale, safety and productivity.”