Changes to RIDDOR welcomed
Nov 27, 2013
UK fork lift truck training provider, Mentor, has welcomed the latest changes to the RIDDOR rules for reporting workplace accidents – but advises that the industry could be in for a shock.
A series of amendments to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations came into force on 1st October, relaxing the requirement to report some accidents and replacing the "major" injury category with a specified list.
The changes are primarily designed to simplify the reporting process and reduce the burden on UK companies from smaller incidents, but Mentor Training says they could put fork lift truck-related injuries squarely under the spotlight.
"Around two thirds of lift truck accidents involve a collision with a pedestrian, so the injuries are often severe. The new focus on these types of accidents could, therefore, make materials handling the centre of attention, for the most regrettable of reasons."
Nonetheless, Mentor believes the change could ultimately save lives in the industry.
Managing Director, Richard Shore, explains: "The recent decline in fork lift truck accidents seems to have stalled, so this might be just the wake-up call materials handling needs, to shake it out of its complacency.
"Every day, we at Mentor see first hand how better awareness and understanding – among staff and managers alike – can create a safer working culture for everyone. If these changes give better quality data to work with, or prompt companies to demonstrate a commitment to fork lift truck safety, then in the long run that can only be a good thing."
