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We have lift off
Page 38
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Thousands of transport companies depend on fork-lift trucks, but safety concerns have led to a proposal that they should be subject to annual MoT-style tests. Transport lawyer Jonathan Lawton reports.
It was probably the American forces' use of fork-lifts towards the end of the Second World War that prompted British companies to adopt them for the handling and movement of packaged goods.
Since then the fork-lift has become a ubiquitous piece of equipment in transport yards, docks and warehouses. Over the years the design has become increasingly sophisticated; now there are even unmanned fork-lifts operating in automated warehouses.
The fact that a fork-lift can out-accelerate a Ferrari over a short distance may explain some users' enthusiasm for them — an enthusiasm which, in turn, has led to a large number of accidents. A Certificate of Competence is now necessary to drive one.
Fork-lifts operate in a risk-assessment hotbed; by now all fork-lift operators should be able to produce appropriate health and safety surveys. Certainly some system of routine daily inspection should be in place, for instance to check for hydraulic leaks or tyre damage. Operators will also be expected to systematically check that their fork-lift drivers have the necessary skills to operate them safely.
Responsibilities