Whilst a forklift provides a variety of different workplaces with the ability to lift, move and stack various loads, it is important to note that they can also attribute to serious accidents and even fatalities. More often than not, these accidents are caused when the person operating or working around the machine have not been properly trained. If you want to reduce the likelihood of incidents occurring, it is important that your workers have forklift licenses.

But, how does having a license help to reduce incidents?

▪       Ensures that everyone has the appropriate skills
The primary reason for forklift licenses is to ensure that the operator possesses the appropriate skills for using such a dangerous machine. It is important that they learn how to start the lift, how to drive it, how to brake, how to turn it off and how to maintain it properly. This will also ensure that they’re confident on the machine.

▪       Ensures that everyone is aware of the hazards
One of the training modules that operators will complete involves understanding and identifying the various hazards that could be present in the workplace. Forklifts have been known, for example, to overturn, drop their loads, crash into objects or walls, and drive over people. It is important that they know what to look for and avoid.

▪       Ensures that everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency
Every now and then, an emergency situation will arise that simply could not be avoided. If this happens, operators need to know what to do in order to avoid a more serious incident from arising. This is another module that will be covered in forklift training, and often includes some first aid training (in the case of someone being injured).

▪       Ensures that everyone behaves accordingly
There are certain behaviours that are not unsafe per say, but they may increase the chances of an incident occurring when a forklift is thrown into the mix. Receiving training will ensure that all workers know how to and how to not behave around these machines. This includes keeping to pedestrian walkways and honking around corners.

▪       Ensures that the workplace complies with the law
It is actually a legal requirement that all operators possess a valid forklift license. If WorkSafe or another Occupational Health & Safe body were to visit your workplace and discover that an operator is unlicensed, you will be subjected to all sorts of fines and may even find your site shut down for the day. Check that all your operators comply.

As you can see, there are a number of ways that having a forklift license can help to reduce the occurrence of incidents in the workplace. If you aren’t sure whether all your workers are qualified or not, it is important that you find out as soon as possible. Workers who aren’t qualified should be offered the opportunity to receive training. At the end of the day, ensuring that your workers and anyone else entering the workplace are safe should be your top priority.