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seandixon  
#1 Posted : 19 March 2020 16:26:29(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
seandixon

Do forklift Trucks require fire extinguishers?

I believe it is not a legal requirement, however, a colleague disagrees.

Kate  
#2 Posted : 19 March 2020 16:41:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Which law is your colleague quoting?

AndrewFM94  
#3 Posted : 20 March 2020 07:40:46(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
AndrewFM94

As far as I am aware there is no legal requirement to have a fire extinguisher in a FLT. We have one stored in our 16t FLT but this is just our preference. 

Messey  
#4 Posted : 20 March 2020 10:26:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Messey

No law to make an extinguisher a 'requirement' 

However a fire risk assessment (which is a legal requirement under the RRO or DSEAR) may include within its findings a need to carry such equipment if the risk of fire is particularly high due to the goods being stored/handled or the layout of the warehouse or space

CptBeaky  
#5 Posted : 20 March 2020 11:26:29(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
CptBeaky

Definatly no law relating to this. However I would expect the premises to have the appropriate extinguishers if they are operating forklifts, and stored in such a place as to be easily reached shoud the forklift catch on fire.

In our instance, we have powder extinguishers placed externally at each end of our building, and another inside the FLT access to the building.

vincehoward  
#6 Posted : 21 March 2020 07:44:56(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
vincehoward

Completely depends on an assessment of the task, which should be covered by a risk assessment.

For example I advise in an end of life vehicle recycling plant and due to the nature of the work all FLT's have a FE.

Kim Hedges  
#7 Posted : 21 March 2020 12:38:14(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kim Hedges

I really hate the wishy washy laws we have in Britain sometimes, our laws are based on doing the minimum and hoping it will be done better, rather than directing that 'you must provide or do something'.  It's a race to the bottom that's been going on since the English civil war. 

Extinguishers on forklift trucks (FLT), whilst the RAMS needs to express the need, the fuel used is really the deciding factor and the conditions that the driver has to work in.  So if you happen to run a petrol or diesel FLT, I would expect to see a powder extingisher on a FLT.  If the FLT is running a propane or hydrogen gas, then no.  If the FLT is battery operated, then yes I'd expect a CO2 extinguisher. 

Plus I would expect to see a bank of extiguishers where the FLT is parked or refuled / recharged.  

The local environment really makes a difference, in an enclosed shed, there are fire extinguishers around as normal, just in case stock catches fire. 

So make the RAMS specific and not generic. 

CptBeaky  
#8 Posted : 23 March 2020 10:12:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
CptBeaky

Originally Posted by: Kim Hedges Go to Quoted Post

Extinguishers on forklift trucks (FLT), whilst the RAMS needs to express the need, the fuel used is really the deciding factor and the conditions that the driver has to work in.  So if you happen to run a petrol or diesel FLT, I would expect to see a powder extingisher on a FLT.  If the FLT is running a propane or hydrogen gas, then no.  If the FLT is battery operated, then yes I'd expect a CO2 extinguisher. 

Plus I would expect to see a bank of extiguishers where the FLT is parked or refuled / recharged.  

Surely it is also dependant on the forkift size, some are too small to safely house an extinguisher.

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