Posted By DPK Glen I am a firefighter and have attended several fires which were caused by FLT's whilst charging. It is for this reason it is imperative to include the charging of and use of FLT's in your fire risk assessment and implement the findings from the assessment e.g. charge FLT externally in separate shed. Not always possible i understand, you should also refrain from charging in confined spaces that are not well ventilated as i believe from memory, FLT batteries give of hydrogen which is a flammable gas. All that said it is not the case where as we go to FLT fires daily or weekly, but i have attended them. DPK

Posted By Konstanty Budkiewicz GL, Further to recent postings, my limited experience shows that _nobody loves a fork lift truck (FLT). Consequently, their operational use needs to be backed by a PUWER assessment: this process drives the driver-training requirement, a robust maintenance programme, annual inspection by a Competent Person and in your case a suitable and sufficient charging facility. Ideally, one should have a lead driver to review the condition of user monitored FLTs every 7 days (supervision of user checks). With regard to maintenance,(that is aimed at detecting damage, deterioration and wiring faults) its findings needs to be reviewed and actioned by management and not left to a user/maintainer arrangement. With regard to charging - we have charged our large hi-lift FLTs in a segregated area of the 20 metres high warehouse without incident under these arrangements (gas levels were confirmed not to be an issue, due to large volume and number of air changes per hour). However, the charging station for the smaller units was more restricted and had an LEV arrangement that activated whenever a charger was switched on. FLT overheating, in my view, is a foreseeable hazard event. Mindful of this, I suggest that the area/process is made part of your monthly or 6-monthly area audit programme, until you have a satisfactory level of confidence in the new arrangements. Kon