A very good afternoon to all!
In 2006, forklift-related accidents resulted in 9 fatalities and 107 injuries at workplaces. The key causal and contributing factors include forklift operations by unauthorised staff and lack of proper traffic management. An increasing trend of forklift-related injuries was also observed.
NTUC saw the need to facilitate the enhancement of safety practices in forklift management among unionised workplaces. Working in partnership with Tat Hong Training Services Pte Ltd, an accredited provider of forklift driver’s training, NTUC initiated the forklift safety focus project for the manufacturing and logistics sectors.
Five unionised companies came forward to work with NTUC on a pilot project.
The first phase of the project involved on-site visit and observation of the companies’ forklift operations and traffic management system by the NTUC-Tat Hong team. Thereafter, consultancy advice and suggestions for improvement were provided to the companies.
During the visits, we saw some interesting and innovative solutions introduced by some companies to enhance safety and health conditions. For example, one company installed a catalytic converter on their diesel-operated forklift – a device to reduce the emission of hazardous fumes. Another company has a speed warning light device installed to remind their forklift drivers when they exceed allowable speed limit.
However, we also observed that some forklift operators are quite complacent when doing their work, especially those who have been on the job for many years. Just like some drivers that we commonly see on the road, they tend to take shortcuts or fail to observe safety rules and procedures. Employers and supervisors will have to remind them, assess and evaluate their skill level and safety awareness periodically. This will help to determine the need for re-training.
The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act has been in place since March 2006. This Act will eventually, in 1 to 2 years time, cover all workplaces. Employers who fail to provide a safe work environment for their workers or workers who flout safety rules will be considered an offence under the WSH Act.
While everyone in the workplace has an active role to play in ensuring safety, we would like to remind employers and supervisors to take the lead in reviewing their safe work practices pertaining to forklift management and provide a safe work environment for their workers and themselves. After all, workers come to work, so the least employers can do is to ensure that workers can go home safe and sound to their families. We urge all employers to put safety first in all their considerations. Ensuring safety at workplaces is about showing respect to human lives – a basic obligation that all employers must fulfill.
Today’s Forklift Safety Seminar organised specially for the manufacturing and logistics sectors culminates the project. Forklift safety does not concern only the forklift operators. Safe forklift management entails knowing the forklift, skills and knowledge to operate safely, factors influencing forklift safety, accident prevention and more. Hence, this seminar will benefit supervisors, management, unionists and persons who pass by or work near forklifts.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Mr Roy Chia and Mr K. Shanmugam from Tat Hong Training Services for partnering NTUC in the Forklift Safety focus project and the five participating companies for their support.
Thank you, and I wish you a fruitful seminar ahead!
