It is a fact that, across Australia, transport and storage has the highest injury rate for all industries, at nearly double the current average of 16 claims per 1000 employees.
It is a fact that the top three hazards to these industries are:
- Pedestrians
- Forklift Operators
- Makeshift Platforms
Collisions with pedestrians and having loads fall onto pedestrians account for approximately 29% of injuries and 56% of fatalities.
This figure, however, is closely followed by the recorded injuries resulting from forklift operations.
Forklift Safety Cages are a convenient, practicle and low-risk alternative to dodgy makeshift platforms. Because, why risk it?!
Rollovers and unexpected movement of forklifts crushing operators account for 29% of fatalities, while slips, trips and falls when mounting or disembarking from forklifts are responsible for around 27% of injury to forklift operators.
Adding to this are the 19% of injuries in these workplaces accounted for by forklift operators who experience body stressing (sprains and strains) while driving forklifts.
Finally, rounding out the top three hazards are the 12% of fatalities in the industry consistently caused by makeshift platforms elevated on forklift fork arms.
The consequences for unsafe work practices can be both lethal and costly, ranging from lost employee time and injury to increased work cover levies, punitive action and prosecution.
At best, these events result in poor publicity for the company. At worst, plant/department downtime, prohibition and prosecution can bring a company to its knees both financially and legally.
Safe practices are always worth it - don't risk your workers, your company or the job at hand
How can you arm yourself against the risk of unsafe work practices?
Risk assessment and hazard identification will quickly highlight key problems areas. Often these challenges can then be overcome with materials handling equipment, forklift attachments, safe storage and access solutions, or a mix of these.
Trolleys, container ramps and forklift drum attachments can mean the difference between meeting a deadline and failing it, and they can also mean the difference between a job well done, and a tragedy.
Don’t let budget restraints cost you so much more than a one-off investment in good quality equipment.
Forklift safety cages, lifting hoists, drum spill containments pallets, gas cylinder storage cages or fully certified lifting jibs can increase productivity, certainly. More importantly, though, is that these items can increase safety, decrease risk, and decrease liability.
That insurance can be worth more then you’ll ever know. If you’re lucky.
