Ben Wade of Australian Forklift Training explains the implications of Work Health and Safety (WHS) for businesses using mobile plant such as forklifts.

Work Health and Safety (WHS) is an extremely important consideration for all businesses. The business should first conduct a risk assessment to assess the likely potential of an accident while their employees perform their normal duties. The likely injuries that may result from each possible accident should be then identified, following which the business owner should decide on possible control measures to greatly minimise the likelihood of occurrence of these accidents.

The Hierarchy of Control is highly recommended as a suitable method to find the most appropriate control measure or preventative measure for ensuring workplace safety. Consisting of six steps, the business is required to go through the steps in the right order.

The Hierarchy of Control:

1. Elimination: If possible, remove the hazard.

2. Substitution: Use a safer method if you can't remove the hazard.

3. Isolation: Stop access to the hazardous area.

4. Engineering control measures: Change the equipment or tools to make it safer.

5. Administrative practices: Reduce the time the worker is exposed to the hazard through training, job rotation, timing of jobs, etc.

6. PPE: Use personal protective equipment as your last option.