Fork lift truck policy

In the UK every year, around 400 workers are seriously injured in fork lift truck (FLT) accidents. If you use FLTs on your premises, use our policy to set out your arrangements for using this equipment safely.

Why you need the policy

Employers with five or more employees are required to write down their health and safety policy and arrangements, and this includes their policy for FLT use where appropriate.

What’s covered?

Our policy includes:

• a general statement of policy on the topic

• the legal position

• risk assessment - who is responsible for undertaking the assessment, who provides the resources for any risk control measures required, what aspects of the work the assessment should cover

• selection and training - medical, training and authorisation criteria for drivers

• supervision - training/ briefing for supervisors and managers, action to be taken by supervisors when controlling FLT use on a daily basis

• equipment selection and maintenance - including statutory inspection and testing, maintenance and in-house routine inspections

• workplace organisation, e.g. lighting, space, layout, signage etc.