A forklift truck is a powered industrial truck equipped with a mast and an elevating load carriage. A pair of fork arms or another load-holding device is attached to the carriage. Forklifts do not require WorkCover design or item registration, but operators of forklifts and order-picking forklifts must have a national high risk work licence.
Forklift safety
When the forklift is moving or parked you must keep the tines as close to the ground as possible. Tines should only be raised when loading or unloading.
You should never lift a person on a pallet on the tines. Not only is this an extremely unsafe practice, it could also be a breach of an employer's general duty of care under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (Act). An on the spot fine of $1000 could be levied, higher penalties could apply if the matter was prosecuted. An employee could also be issued with a $200 on the spot fine for failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others at the employers place of work.
Safety devices - beepers, lights and seatbelts
It is not a requirement that a forklift be fitted with reversing beepers or lights, but if they are fitted they must be properly maintained. If a risk assessment at the workplace identifies that reversing forklifts are a potential risk, the appropriate control measure may be to fit lights and reversing beepers. It is, however, important to look in the direction of travel at all times.
If seatbelts are supplied as part of the safety equipment they must be worn. Wearing seat belts may reduce the risk of injury.
Speed
There is no set speed you can travel in your forklift. The acceptable speed is a slow, safe speed that takes into account:
- ground condition
- environment
- traffic
- employee and public access to work area.
Forklift platforms
WorkCover does not issue authorisations for forklift platforms. Designers, manufacturers and suppliers of forklifts (including their components or accessories), have a general duty of care under section 11 of the Act.
Their general duty includes ensuring that the plant is safe and without risks to health when properly used. They must also provide (or arrange for the provision of) adequate information about the plant to the persons to whom it is supplied in order to ensure its safe use.
In order to satisfy the general duty of care, the Australian Standard AS2359, Powered Industrial Trucks, or an equivalent method or practice may be followed. This standard prescribes design, manufacturing and work practices for a range of powered industrial trucks, including forklifts. Standards can be purchased from Standards Australia.
The Standard states that anyone needing to be raised in a work platform to perform 'special tasks of short duration' may do so provided a properly designed platform is fitted to the forklift truck for that purpose. 'Special tasks of short duration' means work that requires the platform to remain in one location for a limited time.
In the case of repeated operation at frequent intervals, the use of other suitable equipment is advised, eg scissor lift.
The Standard also prohibits the use of a forklift platform for order picking, production or stores activities.
General requirements
Forklifts are designed to raise, lower and travel with a load. They are not to be used as a general mode of transport in any area.
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001(Regulation), clause 142 (3) (d) (i) to (vi) inclusive identifies control measures for plant designed to lift or move people or loads.
- The person in charge of the appliance is responsible for regular inspections of the general safe condition and lift chains on the appliance
- Under the Australian Standard AS 2359 Powered Industrial Trucks part 1 general requirements section 12.3.1 and 12.3.2, it is recommended that the total load on the work platform, including personnel and materials, is not to exceed 250 kg
- The forklift truck operator must hold the appropriate high risk work licence as required by the regulation
- The forklift truck is to be operated on a hard level surface during use of the work platform.
Call 13 10 50 for more information about forklifts