STAY ON THE BALL FOR SAFETY THIS SUMMER

Posted on by Marie Boulton

Staying Safe in the Sun this Summer

As we’ve had a joyous couple of days of sun this month (short lived, but thoroughly enjoyed) we thought it would be good to write an article on how you can make sure your forklift operators are safe in the sun. For many forklift operators, working outdoors on a warm, sunny day can be a very attractive aspect of the job. But don’t let the sunshine and fresh air › Read More

Safer Site Essentials FOUR: Trucks

Posted on by Marie Boulton
To be safe, a fork lift truck needs three things: to be right for the job, to be well looked-after, and to be checked thoroughly before use. Things to do…

Survey Your Sites and Choose the Right Trucks

Different working environments require different trucks. The design, for instance, warehouse equipment like reach trucks and stackers means they’re not appropriate for outdoor use. Counterbalance trucks are, but only really on smooth and level surfaces. And ventilation is important when using › Read More

Safer Site Essentials THREE: Site

Posted on by Marie Boulton
Creating a safer site environment in which your trucks and people work, is imperative and is a big factor in eliminating risk. Here are the main elements to consider.

Remove Layout and Design Risks

  • Try and segregate pedestrians and trucks as much as possible, and make sure any crossing points are clear and well signposted
  • Similarly aisles should be wide, free of obstacles and ideally one-way
  • Consider speed and the use of wall-mounted mirrors to enhance visibility
  • Minimize the › Read More

Safer Site Essentials TWO: Operators

Posted on by Marie Boulton
A fork lift truck is only as safe as the person using it. For this reason the safety awareness of your operators is critical. Things to do…

Identify and Carry Out Training

It is imperative you do this for ALL Operators… and, ideally, colleagues who work around them too. It’s important that your fork lift operators – even if they only use a truck occasionally – are trained by properly qualified instructors with current qualifications. This can be either an Accredited Instructor › Read More

Safer Site Essentials Part ONE: Management

Posted on by Marie Boulton
Here at Welfaux, we take forklift safety very seriously and periodically share articles on how you can make sure that your workplace is safe too. We’re proud to say we’re a part of Fork Lift Truck Association and they provide in-depth standards and practises to keep your organisation safe. So be like us and equip your managers or supervisors with this information and the rest will follow. Things to do…

Choose a Fork Lift Safety Champion

Your fork › Read More

THE COSTS AND DANGERS OF RSI

Posted on by Marie Boulton

WE’VE DISCUSSED FATAL AND LIFE-CHANGING FORKLIFT ACCIDENTS IN OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLES… BUT LONGER TERM INJURIES SUCH AS RSI AFFECT COUNTLESS WORKERS EVERY DAY…

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) are most often associated with workers using computers or pneumatic drills but upper limb disorders affecting forklift operators are costing businesses many thousands of Euros hours every year. It’s probably not the first thing you consider when selecting a new forklift… But with RSI-related injuries so › Read More

Video DIDN’T Kill the Forklift Star!

Posted on by Marie Boulton
Video didn’t kill the forklift star, but it is killing some employers trust in its employee’s. There is an abundance of forklift videos online – accidents, safety tutorials, and day-to-day truck operation. What is worrying, however, is the increasing number of videos where fork trucks are being driven badly or simply abused. Suddenly forklift safety becomes a distant thought. Here we discuss the pros and cons of the online video age.

INTER-NUTS!

With around 95% of phones now › Read More

Is Second Hand ALWAYS Used and Abused?

Posted on by Marie Boulton

WHEN TO BUY A USED FORKLIFT TRUCK

Right now, there are some very attractive deals on used equipment – but it’s also a very good time to buy new, so you need to be extra careful to get the best overall deal. Like buying a used car, the seller may not want to tell you everything and repair bills could cost you thousands, so it’s up to you to choose a reputable supplier (like us!) and to › Read More

Can You See Why Your Business is at Risk?

Posted on by Marie Boulton

WHY FORKLIFT PROS PUT VISIBILITY FIRST…

When it comes to purchasing a new truck, it is operator visibility that tops most forklift buyers’ wish lists. Indeed, in a recent pan-European study, 62 percent of respondents named operator visibility as the most critical factor in their truck buying decision – ahead of reliability, stability and operating costs.
And for good reason, too. During forklift operations, operators rely on their vision to gather › Read More

They Say a Cleaner Engine Leads to a Cleaner Conscience

Posted on by Marie Boulton

…and your conscience will definitely be cleaner when you realise that having a forklift truck with a clean engine is good for the environment. plus, it’s better for your total cost of ownership too!

Demand for lower vehicle emissions and higher fuel efficiency in the automotive industry has drifted over other motive industries. And, industrial lift trucks are no exception. Besides market demand also (European) regulations influenced the development of the modern industrial engines. But having a clean engine could › Read More