Union Delegates Develop Hazard Checklist For Forklifts

The National Union Of Workers has been pushing the issue of Forklift Safety as a major Occupational health and safety risk for their members Each year there is a alarming number of fatalities involving forklift operators.

Derek Belan, Secretary of the Union said, "the union conducted a survey of all its members through the union journal and the number of responses and recommendations on how to improve safety overwhelmed us".

Notwithstanding the deaths and serious injuries, the total cost of NSW workers compensation claims for injuries and death arising from the use of forklifts was over $20.5 million in 1998/99.

The National union of Workers nominated a number of their delegates, who are forklift operators on to a special committee set up by WorkCover to come up with solutions on how to address this issue. The Committee was a great success and they have developed a comprehensive checklist which is titled: Does Your Forklift Work For You? for managers and supervisors of small wholesale businesses, who oversee forklift truck operations.

The checklist, which should be completed at least four times each year, covers four areas: forklift operation, the work environment, work processes and the forklift operator.
Rather than highlighting every possible hazard related to the use of forklifts, the checklist focuses on getting employers to review their practices on an ongoing basis and not after a major accident or incident has occurred. It will immediately identify the hazards and the employers should rectify any problems.

Unions Delegates Vigilance with Checklist
The unions will be issuing the checklists to all their delegates and will encourage the delegates to use the checklists on a continuous basis.

"This is a major issue for our members and I am confident our delegates will be vigilant with the checklists," said Derek Belan.

If you are a union member contact your union for a copy of the checklist.

The NUW may be contacted on 9682-4622

A list of organisations supporting forklift safety and providing operator training is also on the back of the checklist.

For further information

Contact	:	OHS & Workers Compensation Officer - Mary Yaager
Phone	:	+61 2 9264 1691
Email	:	m.yaager@labor.org.au
WWW	:	http://ohsnet.labor.net.au/ohsnet/news

[ up to OHS NET News/Info Index ]

Privacy Statement
OHS NET is supported by the Workcover Authority of NSW.
Photos kindly supplied by National Occupational Health & Safety Commission.

This site was created and powered by Social Change Online