The need to ensure safe social distancing in the loading environment continues to be a priority issue for logistics operations nationwide. However, as managing director of Thorworld Industries, John Meale explains, in these current safety focused times, it is essential that loading operators remain vigilant regarding the legal safety requirements they must adhere too.
“It’s been an extremely challenging time for the logistics industry,” Meale says. “When urgent situations suddenly arise, logistics operations must of course be prioritised. However the importance of ensuring that the loading equipment being used is legally safe must never be underestimated.
“At Thorworld Industries, we take the operational view that all equipment used in the loading bay environment should meet with the functional requirements of PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations).
“PUWER’s core purpose calls for equipment provided for use at work to be suitable for its intended use, ensuring it’s safe, maintained, correctly inspected and installed, and used only by people who have received essential operating information and training. We support this objective entirely.
“In essence, ensuring that safe social distancing works alongside the use of correctly maintained loading equipment is the key,” he continues, adding: “It’s vital that operational equipment remains effectively inspected and maintained by competent individuals, adhering to safe social distancing practice.
“Third-party services, delivered as part of a maintenance contract or as a single inspection can ensure compliance with all the relevant regulations, and will confirm that equipment is being correctly used. Thorworld’s engineers work to all current, relevant regulations, under the auspices of FEM Guidance Documents, and also provide valuable operator training, delivered via classroom theory sessions, short examinations and practical sessions involving hands on equipment use.”
Course completion is a highly effective way for employers to improve safety operations for their staff, helping companies avoid or even eliminate workplace accidents and prove employee competence, he concludes.
t: 01246 260981 | www.thorworld.co.uk