Forklift horror
Page 28
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iwoULD like to correct the somewhat misleading and inaccurate picture (CM March 12, "Forklift horror") given of the proposed National Industrial Truck Training and Certification Council (NITTACC) scheme. In particular it is important that readers should know why the Health and Safety Executive, whose inspectors are so often called in to examine the tragic aftermath of accidents, is so keen to see the NITTACC initiative succeed.
Surveys like "Transport kills" show that training standards for forklift drivers must be improved; not for any idealistic reason, but in a serious attempt to reduce this horrific toll of accidents. What NITTACC will do is to set a standard of basic training, accredit training centres and instructors as competent to provide training to that standard, and certificate drivers who reach that standard. They will not, however, run courses for instructors or drivers.
The organisations involved in NITTACC, including the CBI, have agreed both that the standard is reasonably practicable, and that the arrangements under the scheme for monitoring and maintaining the standard are adequate.
The Health and Safety at Work Act requires adequate training, and establishes the powers for inspectors described in CM. The NITTACC scheme does not, of course, extend these powers. Inspectors will, however, use the standard set by the scheme as a guide and where employers decide not to use the NITTACC accredition scheme they will be expected to show that they are nevertheless training their operators to an equally effective standard. Surely that is in the interests of everybody concerned with health and safety at work?
I see no reason why the NITTACC scheme should in any way reduce the earning potential of competent training organisations. On the contrary, we would expect training to increase. We are confident that the scheme can lead to an improvement in training standards and a reduction in accidents and would urge your readers to support it.
PETER ROSE Chief Press Officer Health and Safety Executive London NWI