Night Shifts & Forklifts: Staying Safe When the Sun Goes Down

 

Night Shifts & Forklifts: Staying Safe When the Sun Goes Down

By Brian Ford | Safety 1st Forklift Training, Ballymena

As we all know here in Ballymena, the days can get short, and for many industries, the work doesn’t stop just because the sun has gone down. Whether you are working a late shift in a warehouse or loading trucks in an outdoor yard under floodlights, operating a forklift at night brings a whole new set of challenges.

At Safety 1st Forklift Training, we always emphasise that visibility is your best friend. When you’re driving in low-light conditions, your reaction times need to be sharper, and your awareness needs to be higher.

Here are my top tips for staying safe during those night shifts:

1. Check Your Lights (Before You Start)

It sounds obvious, but it’s the most common issue we see. Before you even turn the key, do your pre-shift check. Are your front work lights functioning? Do your brake lights and indicators work? If you are working outdoors, are the strobe/beacon lights flashing correctly? If you can’t see, and others can’t see you, the machine shouldn’t move.

2. Let Your Eyes Adjust

Moving from a brightly lit canteen or office into a dimly lit yard can temporarily blind you. Give your eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness before you start operating heavy machinery.

3. Watch Out for Shadows

Artificial lighting—whether it’s warehouse LEDs or outdoor floodlights—creates shadows. These shadows can hide tripping hazards, uneven ground, or even pedestrians. If you aren’t 100% sure what is in that dark patch of the yard, stop and check.

4. Slow Down

Depth perception is harder at night. Judging the distance of the racking or the edge of a lorry trailer becomes much trickier in low light. Take your speed down a notch. It’s better to take an extra 10 seconds to place a load safely than to rush and cause an accident.

5. Be Seen

This applies to everyone, not just the drivers. If you are on the ground during a night shift, High-Vis is non-negotiable. Drivers are relying on that reflective strip to spot you in the dark.

Stay safe out there, and remember: if you need a refresher on safety protocols or training for your team, we cover the whole island—from Belfast to Cork.

Need training? Contact Brian at Safety 1st Forklift Training today.

 

Is Your Forklift Safety Ready for the Busy Christmas Period?

 

With Christmas just around the corner, experts are predicting a 2.2% rise in seasonal spending compared to last year, which could make it one of the busiest Christmas periods in the last 10 years.

While this is great news for our economy, and hopefully means we’ll all be enjoying a very merry Christmas, it’s essential that businesses, and especially suppliers and retailers, are prepared for the impending rush. One thing that absolutely cannot be overlooked is health and safety, and while some business owners may be concentrating on profit and keeping up with demand if you fall into this trap and neglect your health and safety policy, it could end up costing you much more.

Warehousing equipment, forklift trucks, pallet trucks and staff will be in great demand for the next few weeks, but by following our advice to keep your warehouse safe, you’ll be able to keep up with the Christmas rush and protect yourself against the risks and costs associated with accidents in the workplace.

Stock up on equipment

At this time of year, many materials handling providers will see an increase in hired equipment to help warehouses manage the increased demand. So book your hired forklifts early, with a trusted and certified supplier, to ensure you have everything you need to keep up with the work.

Prepare your staff

Invest in refresher courses for staff that have already been trained, but may not have had to use the equipment or operate machinery for a while. It may not be a legal requirement, but keeping your workers’ skills sharp could drastically reduce the potential downtime caused by accidents.

Prepare for the weather

Businesses can lose a lot of money at any time of year if delivery trucks can’t collect goods, staff can’t get to work, or workers can’t navigate your site safely – but with an increase in profit at stake, it’s especially important over Christmas.

It may be a matter of hiring attachments for your vehicles to move snow, or if you have a large outdoor yard you may have to invest in leasing a snow plough, but at the very least you will need plenty of grit and snow shovels.

Seasonal staff

We all know that increased pressure at work can lead to mistakes as staff cut corners and rush to get their work done, but this is particularly dangerous in warehousing environments as a mistake could lead to a serious accident.

Employing temporary staff to help out over the Christmas period is a great idea, and will help to ensure you are not expecting too much from your permanent staff to the point they may become frustrated, tired and overworked.

However, it is essential you only hire qualified staff or supply them with enough training to let them legally and safely operate machinery. Make sure they are supplied with the correct PPE and are informed of your specific health and safety policy.

Risk assessments

If you are particularly concerned about the increased level of risk in your work environment then carry out a review of your risk assessment. Take into account the increase in machinery, stock and staff, and implement safety precautions that will help to negate the new hazards.

Depending on what type of equipment you use, you may also need to arrange for servicing and maintenance before the Christmas rush, to ensure potential machine faults are identified and remedied before your staff get too busy.

These steps will not just keep your warehouse operating safely over Christmas, but will also help to maintain efficiency and productivity, so you can look forward to a successful Christmas!

The team at safety 1st forklift training offer a range of training courses, tailored to suit the needs of your business, so whether you’re looking for general health and safety courses, risk assessment training or forklift operator training – simply get in touch today.

 

Why water a forklift battery?

The battery is one of the most expensive parts of a forklift truck and needs to be properly maintained to get full value from the truck. Forklift batteries can last from 5 – 10 years before they need replacing, but only when looked after.

What maintenance do forklift batteries require?

It varies between brands and models, but overnight charging, cooling periods, and regular use are the main factors. Watering the forklift battery is another task that preserves the lifespan of the battery and gets more use from the forklift.

Watering a forklift battery keeps the acid mix at the correct dilution and allows the battery to reach its rated power capacity and charge without overheating. Without watering, forklift batteries can burn out and run into problems.

Why water a forklift battery?

 

• Increase the battery lifespan
• Reduce the likelihood of premature failure
• Reduce operational downtime
• Prevent replacement battery costs
• Increase the operating period of forklifts
• Fewer energy and maintenance costs

When should you water a forklift battery?

You should water your forklift battery only when it has been completely charged and has had time to cool. When the battery has completed a charging cycle, the water levels are at their highest and you can top the water up without it over boiling.

How to water a forklift battery

There are manual and automated methods for watering. Whatever method you use to water your forklift battery, only water each cell until the top of the lead-acid plate is reached. These plates are usually visible a few cm below the cell cap.

Gravity feed system – With a large, suspended water tank, the operator fills the cells with a hose attachment, moving between cells until they are full. The operator manually gauges the level of water in each cell and may need to use a torch to see.

Powered hose – The operator manually fills each cell to the proper level using a hose. As with the gravity feed system, you need sight of the level of water in each cell.

Recommended:

Battery watering system – These hook your batteries up to a hose device that fixes each cell and properly fills them. It automatically shuts off the water when each cell is properly filled. These systems are easier to use and provide the most accuracy.

We hope this quick guide has provided you with the information you need. If you are struggling with forklift maintenance in Yorkshire, or think your forklifts could use a service, get in touch with our forklift experts on 028 9084 1444 or info@whall.co.uk

OUR TOP TIPS FOR FORKLIFT WAREHOUSE SAFETY

Safety at work should be taken seriously no matter what job you do, but when dealing with any machinery – such as forklifts – it’s especially important that safety is at the forefront of workers’ minds. While forklifts can no doubt help speed up and improve your operations, misuse or a lack of training can be a recipe for disaster.

Having a forklift safety system for your warehouse is essential. Keep reading for our top tips for maintaining forklift warehouse safety.

WAREHOUSE FORKLIFT SAFETY RULES

UNDERTAKE DAILY CHECKS

Have a forklift safety system in your warehouse by making sure you’re examining your machines regularly with routine inspections. Checking your machines at the start of each working day is a great habit to get into. During your examinations, it’s a good idea to have a checklist that you can tick off. Make sure that:

• Any lights are working.
• Breaks are working well.
• The tires are in good condition with no damage.
• The steering is working correctly.

WORK IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT

Make sure your warehouse is free from any mess or clutter and that signage is clear and observable. Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common causes of work-related injuries in the UK, according to stats from the Health & Safety Executive. Ensure your lighting is correct and workers have a clear sight of their surroundings, spills are cleared up immediately, and everyone is aware of any potentially slippery surfaces.

Be aware that wet surfaces can be hazardous when driving forklifts, as stopping distances can be much longer, just like in a car.

WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING

Dressing right when using forklift trucks can go a long way towards maintaining proper safety.  PPE (personal protective equipment) protects workers from anything that could jeopardize their physical safety during the workday. PPE could include:

• Safety shoes like steel toecap boots.
• A helmet/hard hat to protect your head from sudden dangers or impacts.
• Eye protection like safety glasses or goggles.
• High-visibility clothing like a reflective jacket or vest.
• Safety gloves to protect your hands.

FORKLIFT DRIVER TRAINING

Probably the most important aspect of warehouse forklift safety is making sure drivers are properly trained and qualified. According to figures released by the HSE, 43 people are injured by forklifts every week, and there’s a fatality every 6 weeks.

Making sure that those operating forklifts are well-versed in how to do so safely and correctly plays a vital role in helping to prevent accidents. Casual training has serious downsides, so you should always make sure that you’re undergoing training with an experienced, accredited company that knows forklift safety rules like the backs of its hands.

At Moorgate, we understand the risks associated with forklifts. That’s why we’ve been offering forklift driver training courses in Leeds for over 30 years. From complete beginners to experienced drivers looking for refresher training (which should be undertaken every three years), our courses will make sure your business is complying with the latest industry regulations and standards – and staying as safe as possible.

We hope these tips for forklift safety in warehouses were helpful. If you’re looking for forklift driver training in Yorkshire, get in touch today for details. You can reach us on 07808883209 or brianford@safety1stforklifttraining.com.

Use simple 3-points-of-contact rule to prevent nasty falls

Use the simple 3-points-of-conta
ct rule to prevent nasty falls

Falls, slips and trips account for over a third of all UK workplace injuries, with forklift truck operators and warehouse staff ranking highly among them. In fact, every year falls from stationary and moving lift trucks seriously injure – or worse – approximately 40 workers in the UK.

Encourage your operators and those responsible for site safety to take care when mounting and dismounting lift trucks by following one simple rule: keep three points of contact.

It's a basic fundamental of forklift operator training that simply states: when getting on or off a truck, you should maintain three points of contact until you are either in your seat or standing firmly on the ground. This means one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot at all times, and it will go a long way towards helping limit the risk of injury.

The best practice for mounting and dismounting a forklift truck is as follows:

• Mount/dismount only when the truck is stationary
• Face the truck
• Use the handgrips and steps provided
• Look all around for hazards
• Get on and off the truck under control and one foot at a time
• Do not jump
• Take extra care in the rain, snow, or icy conditions

It’s best practice for good reason…

Not only does dismounting incorrectly put you at risk of a slip or fall, but the consequences could also be far more serious. Jumping to the ground is likely to put more distance between you and your lift truck and do so far quicker than simply stepping down, and could put you suddenly and unexpectedly in the path of another vehicle.

By facing the truck to mount and dismount and maintaining three points of contact, you can better protect yourself, should you end up in harm’s way. With at least one hand and foot on the truck at all times, you will be able to pull yourself into the cab of the truck and out of danger should a passing vehicle or obstruction come too close.

It might sound like common sense, but when you see the number of injuries caused by slips and falls then it’s worth reminding your forklift operators. It’s simple and easy to apply so if users bear it in mind when working, hopefully, we’ll start to see a reduction in falls from forklifts.