Jungheinrich manager Peter Scott warns that untreated pot holes in yards could present health and safety issues.

A UK materials handling safety expert is warning forklift users to beware of pot holes and other surface defects caused by the recent freezing weather.

Peter Scott, a chartered health and safety practitioner who has a Master's degree in safety management from Bournemouth University, warns that untreated pot holes and surface defects present in the yards of factories, warehouses and distribution centres could present health and safety issues.

"Deep pot holes could potentially tip forklifts over, particularly if that truck is travelling with a raised load. Of course, no forklift operator should travel with the load raised, but we all know that not all operators follow the rules," Scott says.

Potholes form as asphalt surfaces crack over time. The cracks allow snow and rainwater to seep into the underlying dirt and gravel. In cold winter conditions, the water freezes and expands, pushing some of the dirt and gravel out and leaving a hole in the yard surface when the ice melts and the asphalt layer collapses.

Scott says that unlike cars, forklifts have no sophisticated suspension systems and risk damage to the axle and tyres after driving over pot holes.

He suggests forklift users with a yard that has suffered damage invest in pothole repair kits, which are available on the internet.

"Get the repair done before your truck fleet is damaged - or worse, one of your workers is involved in an accident.

"Also, with summer coming, untreated pot holes will generate dust which might result in mechanical problems," Scott adds.

David Hoover, president of Forklift Training Systems and one of Forkliftaction.com News's Safety First columnists, thinks that pot holes are not a major concern in the US. "In my opinion, the majority of forklift use in the US is inside operations, but that's not to say there are not tens of thousands of forklifts that do occasionally go outside and those that only operate outside."

"We use a huge amount of cushion-tyred units in the US, while many other countries have mainly air-filled tyres. I think this is because our typical surfaces are pretty decent for the most part," he says.