Newly published forklift guide will bring industry into 21st century

In a move to provide up-to-date advice, the Forklift Good Practice Guideline has been created to support all that operate within the materials handling industry throughout New Zealand. Sam Morton speaks with New Zealand Forklift Industry Association Chief Executive Rodney Grant to learn more. Almost two years of industry consultation, workplace engagement and widespread feedback throughout the sector has culminated in a new set of modern, fit-forpurpose forklift operating guidelines, helping to bring the forklift industry into the 21st century and reduce workplace accidents.

The newly published Forklift Good Practice Guidelines (GPG) has been developed by the New Zealand Forklift Industry Association (NZFIA), and designed to replace the current outdated and inadequate industry guidance.

The existing guidance – referred to as the Approved Code of Practise of Forklift Training and Operations Practice (ACOP) – is almost three decades old and contains out-of-date information that no longer applies to multiple settings throughout the industry.

Mr Grant says the GPG has now been widely accepted by the industry and has been submitted to WorkSafe New Zealand in a bid for official endorsement.

“The Association approached WorkSafe and other political movers back in August 2021, pointing out how important it was for our industry to replace the ACOP. At the time, it seemed there were insufficient resources to carry this work out, so we said as an Association we would do it instead.

“So, we did. We worked with the industry, put the guidelines together and just last month have put the document in the hands of WorkSafe to see if it’s something they would endorse, so as to give the Government the assurance the industry had a guidance document to follow.”

Until any such endorsement, the existing 1995 ACOP is unlikely to be revoked – meaning the industry is still legally governed by the present legislation. However, Mr Grant and the wider association are confident the new guidelines will play a big part in modernising the industry, particularly helping to provide good practice for new operators before they commence work.

“We don’t necessarily have any sway to say to the industry, you must follow this document. But what we hope is, the marketplace will naturally follow them and realise that these guidelines are the result of consultation and feedback from all interested parties in the sector.

“We prefer to say good practice, rather than best practice and that’s deliberate. Good is measurable, but it’s difficult to say what is best – the goalposts always shift and there’s always an opportunity for people to find improvement or do better, so no one wants to boldly say, this is the best way to do something. Essentially, good is a great starting point, and that’s what we prefer to focus on.”

“The production of the document involved hundreds of conversations, industry submissions and industry-led feedback, and serves as a reflection of the desire for our industry to be safe on an everyday basis. According to the GPG, an average of 577 injury claims are put forward to ACC, with more than 120 serious injuries reported per calendar year since 2013.”

Mr Grant is hoping the new GPG will help to reduce these numbers but points out that a contributing cause of accidents relates to overconfidence and complacency.

“As an industry, we operate very safely and there is extreme care and measures put in place to ensure everyone remains safe within the environment of a working forklift. However, anecdotally, we understand that there are times when people can get slightly ahead of themselves, and get a high level of competence, but then one day, complacency creeps in and accidents happen.

“In carrying out this consultation, we have spoken to virtually every aspect of the sector from importers/manufacturers, overseas authorities, port operations, construction, transport, logistics, warehousing, training environments, packhouses, rough terrain forklift users and even one-man-band companies – asking them all what they think is a safe and reasonable practical way to use their forklifts.

“With all this knowledge taken into account, we hope to continue increasing the competency, but (at the same time) remove the complacency out of the marketplace and this is what these guidelines are all about.”

Going forward, the GPG will be circulated throughout the industry, with Mr Grant and the NZFIA working with businesses to help provide context to the guidelines, how they were developed, the benefits they bring and how they can be implemented into their operations.

In the meantime, Mr Grant is hoping to gain WorkSafe endorsement and hopes that, down the track, the Government can see the merits of the guidelines and ultimately replace the ACOP.

“For us now, it’s about getting the document out there, talking to industries and getting good practice widely adopted and in the hands of all forklift operators. The political and endorsement aspect of this can continue on the side, but as an industry, we want people to understand exactly why the GPG provides a focus on safety and benefits to the workplace.

“It all takes time, but this is something we strongly believe in and will promote,” Mr Grant added.