Posted By Mark R. Devlin
Is their a requirement for forklift trucks to be fitted with a seatbelt?

Posted By George Wedgwood
A risk assessment is required to determine the need but there are precedents. If the truck is fitted with ROPS (Roll Over Protection System) then you should have a belt fitted to prevent the driver falling out of the seat if the vehicle turns over, potentially trapping the body between the ROPS and the ground. If no ROPS fitted then no belt would normally be required - try and get them to wear a belt in any case!! the key feature is to ensure a high level of accredited training is committed to for drivers - there are many very poor FLT trainers about! - and regular retesting to ensure the vehicle is driven safely, over stable ground as far as possible.

Posted By Alan Johnson
I fully agree with Merv, we had trucks operating on good level floors, following risk assessment it was decided to tie back the belts, as due to the high number of times getting on and off the truck the greater risk was from tripping over or entanglement with the belt causing potential falls from the truck.

Risk assessment is the key

Alan

Posted By Tim
I think that most of the significant injuries associated with FLT use are due to it overturning and trapping the driver. My personnel view is that drivers should wear a belt and I think this is the HSE's directive, but I may be wrong.