Regardless of what you do for a living, it’s human nature to look for ways to make tasks easier and less time-consuming. If we believe we can still achieve a similar outcome, we will often seek the path of least resistance to get there.

After becoming accustomed to completing the same tasks day-in, day-out, our minds begin to filter out information, or parts of the process that we don’t believe are important. For those working with or around materials handling equipment (MHE), the results of this “shortcutting" can be fatal.

The path of least resistance

If, in the course of your working day, you cut corners, but nothing bad happens and you still achieve the same outcome as a result, these shortcuts can subconsciously be accepted as more efficient methods.

When applied to forklift operation, over time, you may begin to think that applying the hand brake prior to using the hydraulics only slows your progress, or that turning with a raised load is just as effective. 

And as well as skewing your own perceptions of safety, seeing a colleague cutting corners could lead others to adopt that same poor behaviour, further increasing the level of risk onsite.

But just because something bad hasn’t happened yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t. Should an accident occur because the time wasn’t taken to use the handbrake, line up the load before lifting or set a good example to others, the consequences have the potential to be incredibly serious, wherever MHE is involved.

Positive friction

This is where positive friction comes into effect – think of it as placing tiny hurdles at critical moments to reduce risk. 

We already accept this concept throughout our everyday lives. 

Speed bumps on residential streets, child-proof caps on medicine bottles and car seatbelt chimes are all examples of positive friction.

When it comes to working with MHE, safety and compliance simply cannot be overlooked. The potential risks attached to bad practice around heavy machinery such as forklifts are far too high. 

Taking a proactive approach is key, starting with suitable training for those working on or alongside MHE from a recognised, accredited provider. 

But what more can be done to encourage compliance day to day?

By introducing positive friction, there are many ways that safety measures can be applied within forklift operations to deter bad practice. 

Businesses can choose from a huge range of safety devices available for use on sites, including cameras, floor markings and pedestrian barriers, to name just a few. 

But perhaps the most influential measure that you can implement to ensure best practice is maintained in the long term is proactive management. 

Often overlooked but vitally important, regular monitoring is key to combatting any complacent attitudes that may develop over time and compromise the day to day safety of your operations.

Empower managers to improve safety

For your leaders to carry out effective monitoring, they must be able to spot bad behaviour and nip it in the bud. 

As ACOP L117 states, supervisors must be armed with “enough training and knowledge to recognise safe and unsafe practices.”

After all, those managing your operations set the standard, so it’s vital that they have the confidence to step in and uphold safety when required. 

Dedicated, forklift-focussed training is available for those in these specific roles and, in our experience, feedback suggests that our course has significantly boosted operational safety and awareness.

There are many incremental changes you can make within your operations to encourage best practice but, by equipping your managers to rectify bad practice, you will empower them to provide the ultimate form of positive friction. 

Via ongoing monitoring, your supervisory staff can substantially reduce risk, preventing forklift accidents before they happen.