Materials Handling Equipment [MHE], and in particular, equipment found in manufacturing and warehouses and distributions centres, such as reach trucks, counterbalance trucks, pallet stackers and order pickers, etc., are an essential part of any business in the logistics chain, allowing businesses to manoeuvre goods easily between storage locations and vehicles. Unfortunately, there is an element of risk associated with any MHE, especially when it is operated in confined environments and/or around other people.
Effective operator training goes some way to mitigating this risk, but without suitable workplace safety and supervision systems in place there is no way to ensure that
a) operators will continue to perform to the safest and most efficient standards under the pressure of the live workplace, and
b) safety issues will be reported, and
c) that administrative and training objectives will be
met.
The MHE supervisor and manager, therefore, plays a vital role in the post-training or operational phase of the operator's career.
The purpose of this course is to introduce candidates to the requirements of this critical role and the training and safe operating practices that should be at the heart of any MHE environment.
- To outline legislation affecting the safe operation of Materials Handling Equipment and to explain supervisor/manager's responsibilities in relation to the workplace environment, pre-use inspections
and thorough examination, training requirements, and training records, including authorisation of
operators to operate on company premises;
- To describe the function of a forklift truck and to explain factors that affect its stability, in order that
Supervisors recognise safe and unsafe practices.
At the end of the course, delegates will be able to identify HSE regulations, ACOPs, and guidance relevant to their role as MHE supervisors/managers, conduct a simple departmental/site assessment, recognising safe
and unsafe practices, identify specific and familiarisation training needs, and offer solutions to rectify unsafe operating procedures identified.