Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By GavinR
Hi Guys,
I have an issue with forklift trucks drivers causing repeated property damage at site. In addition to the property damage the are not reporting the incidents when they occur. This has been steadily increasing in frequency over the last 12 months. We have a large number of authorised drivers (40-50) and a total of 10 trucks available over 3 shifts. All drivers are trained and then validated by HSE dept via a practical demonstration and test at site (under site conditions) before being allowed to use the trucks. They all undergo training (CD modules) periodically for refresher in safe practices and all have significant training in safety performance and company rules, i.e. reporting near misses and accidents. We have posted bulletins and toolbox talks etc but still the prob continues. I have contacted companies selling the FLT driver monitoring systems so we can identify the drivers and discipline them accordingly but the costs are excessive and particularly at the current time it will be very difficult to get funding released. We do have some tight areas at site which may cause problems but they cannot be redesigned at present.
Any suggestions would be great! Starting to get very frustrated with this problem now.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jim Tassell (2)
Gavin
Before you get to beating up individual FLT drivers (although metaphorically at least you may need to do so)you need to do some digging into the information you have on incidents. The basic when/where etc. stuff. Are you really confident that you have a full picture of what is actually going on, assuming that you aren't employing 50 or so complete numpties. Also, your actions so far seem to miss one key element - dialogue with the drivers. Why aren't they owning up to damage (which might be the source of vital information)? Do you have a blame culture perhaps?
Jim
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By GavinR
I think we have had adequate dialogue with drivers via the communications (bulletins, safety meetings and incident reviews). Its my opinion, and maybe wrongly that there are a few drivers who are damaging property through carelessness and laziness. The fact they aren't reporting it to their managers, the HSE dept or maintenance dept i feel is because they know they have caused the damage through their actions and not because of lack of training, resources or assistance. Its identifying those responsible which is proving to be the problem. That may sound harsh but i do feel the culture we have in most of depts and from past experiences is they have no problem raising safety concerns over conditions, processes or equipt. I feel they know they are doing something wrong and that is way they are not reporting it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By andy.c.
Gavin
Totally agree with Jim, after reading your thread the word that kept jumping out was discipline, this will not help in encouraging operators to report accidents or near misses.
The issue needs investigating you state that incidents are increasing over the last 12 months, has anything on site changed, new trucks, different stock, different operators, increase in workload, different management,are all trucks identical or is it larger trucks causing the damage in confined area's, you can't alter the site layout, can you change the trucks.
Talk to your operators, involve your truck supplier to check you have the correct kit now or suggest other options and you will probably find the solution to reducing damage.
You can then wield the big stick to any operator who has a cavalier attitude and probably with the backing of the majority who would like to go home safe and well at the end of there shift.
Andy
Collision sensors are good in theory but i have found previously very hard to set at a correct level correctly
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By andy.c.
Gavin
you replied to jim whilst i was typing, if the operators are usually forward in there comments on H&S, why hasn't anybody reported there concerns and given you a steer on who is causing the damage, it maybe that due to the practices and kit involved they have excepted it is enevitable to cause damage and therefore pointless in reporting it
Andy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Stephen Mitchell
Gavin
Have sent you an off line e-mail
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Steve Cartwright
Gavin
Worked at a company that had a similar problem. Too many drivers. If they can drive into a machine, wall doorway the law of averages tells me sooner or later they will hit an employee.
We restricted the number of drivers per shift. 2 enineers, 1 team leader and 1 guy who worked in warehouse. We also restricted the areas that FLT's were allowed to operate in. Reduced FLT incidents overnight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Saz G
The above comments are all relevant and proven methods that may assist you.
I have been involved in a similiar situation before and found that strict enforcement of a shift pre-use and handover checklist helped immensely. As good practice requires that a documented pre-use check list is completed before use of an FLT, if you make the driver sign for the truck at the start of the shift and then the next person also completes a check, it is relatively easy to pinpoint where the damage occurred and who was responsible. Ideally of course, as other posters have suggested, a no-blame culture is important so that drivers freely report accidental damage, but if this isn't possible, the above may help?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Coshh Assessor
"I think we have had adequate dialogue with drivers via the communications (bulletins, safety meetings and incident reviews)."
That's not dialogue, that's sending information one way. Dialogue involves not just talking to people but listening to them. The drivers will know what the problems are that are leading to the incidents (even though by the sounds of it they are afraid to say so) so the listening is important.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By MARK BARRETT
I had the same issues on my site. I introduced a pre op check sheet that was compulsory to have signed at the beginning and end of each shift by a manager.Any defects or indeed scuff marks etc on trucks had to be written down. Then at the end of the shift the manager would have a quick visual of the truck before signing the truck back in. Any new marks on the truck then had to be explained by the driver. Within 2 weeks ALL drivers of all mhe were reporting any incidents immedately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.