The following additional information comes from "Safe at Work Ontario", Issue #3, January 2010:

Ministry to launch forklifts and lifting devices safety blitz.

Forklifts and lifting devices continue to cause serious - sometimes fatal - injuries to workers in Ontario's industrial sector workplaces. In February, the Ministry of Labour will carry out a repeat of last year's successful Forklift and Lifting Devices blitz in the industrial sector. In the 2009 blitz, Ministry of Labour inspectors issued a high number of orders, at 3,155, and 182 stop-work orders.

Workplace injuries and fatalities can usually be traced to a few root causes. The ministry's proactive inspection blitzes on sector-specific hazards are designed to raise awareness and increase compliance with health and safety legislation.

The Forklifts and Lifting Devices blitz will generally focus on three priorities: lifting device inspection and maintenance, operation of the lifting device by a competent person and a safe work environment.

This year, there will be an enhanced focus on supervisor and operator training. Inspectors will be talking with operators and their supervisors to determine their level of understanding of the hazards involved with the work, and their level of competence to perform and supervise work in a manner that does not endanger any worker.

It may be tempting to see lifting device operators as responsible for accidents and, thus, better training as the means to safer operations. But, it is important to recognize that training, although essential, will not be enough to eliminate accidents. To be most effective, operator training should be part of a larger comprehensive safety program that includes:

* hazard identification
* training (of supervisors, lifting device operators and those working near lift trucks, cranes, etc.)
* supervision
* operating procedures
* maintenance and repair procedures
* facility design, and
* lift truck/lifting device selection criteria

Although the employer is responsible for implementation of the program, all the workplace parties should be involved in its development. The joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative - where there is one - along with supervisors and workers, should all be involved not only in the development of rules and procedures to prevent injuries, but in identifying the causes of accidents and "near misses." They should also all be involved in monitoring lifting devices safety improvements.