Safety Overview Of Jurong Ports Forklift Operations

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Safety Overview Of Jurong Ports Forklift
Operations
Ng Kok Wee Safety Department Jurong Port Pte
Ltd 6th October 2008
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Background

• Forklifts at Jurong Port owned and operated
  mainly by Stevedores to support cargo related
  operations
• Total over 300 forklifts between 4 to 16 ton
  capacity out of which 80 are below 10 ton

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Types of cargo handled by forklifts

• Cargoes handled by forklifts vary from steel
  products such as deformed bars, cylindrical
  pipes, I-beams, steel plates, containers,
  palletised cargoes and wood products

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Activities involving forklift operations

• Unload/load cargoes from/onto truck
• Transport cargoes from wharf into warehouse and
  open storage (and vice versa)
• Sorting and delivery of cargo in the warehouse
  and open storage yard

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Hazards associated with forklift operations in
Jurong Port

• Movement of forklift in operational areas
• (b) Wrong use of equipment
• (c) Loading/unloading of cargo involving truck
• (d) Handling of bulky cargo
• (e) Transfer of lengthy cargoes using forklift
• (f) Stuffing/unstuffing of containers

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Wrong use of equipment

• Hazards identification
• Personnel fall from height
• Forklift not designed to lift personnel

• Mitigation measures
• Prohibit the use of forklift for carrying /
  elevating
• personnel
• Prohibit the use of forklift as a work platform
• Enforce the use of scaffolds or aerial work
  platform for
• personnel working at height

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Loading/unloading of cargo involving truck

• Hazards identification
• Unstable/unsecured cargoes on the truck
• Blind spots around truck
• Poor loading/unloading plan
• No clear demarcation of operational area
• Poor traffic management

• Mitigation measures
• Truck drivers to ensure cargo is securely
  fastened at loading point for safe transportation
  and unloading
• Install stanchions on trucks to contain
  loose/unstable load
• Barricade and warning signs around truck
• Brief forklift operator of hazards and loading
  discharging
• sequence before operations
• Provide traffic warden to regulate the traffic
  flow if necessary

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Handling of bulky cargo

• Hazards identification
• View of forklift driver impeded
• Difficulty in securing load
• Shift of Center of gravity

• Mitigation measures
• Ensure forklifts combined center of gravity
  within stability
• range
• Cargo lifted low off the ground when travelling
• Ensure ground conditions even and clear of
  obstructions
• Forklift capacity selection compatible with
  cargo size and
• weight
• Cargo positioned/forked at its center of gravity
• Secure loose cargo to prevent falling off during
  operations

9
Transfer lengthy cargoes using forklift

• Hazards identification
• Unbalanced cargo
• Forklift instability
• Personnel hit by cargo

• Mitigation measures
• Prohibit transportation of lengthy cargoes and 40
  feet containers over a distance by forklift and
  to use truck instead

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Stuffing Unstuffing of Container Operation

• Hazards identification
• Personnel caught between containers
• Blind spots in area of stuffing/unstuffing
  operations

• Mitigation measures
• Container to be put side by side with no gap in
  between
• Barricade and warning signs around operational
  areas
• No storage of cargo within barricaded area
• Traffic management

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Framework governing forklift operations

• Forklift registration
• (b) Risk Assessment
• (c) Pre-operation checklist for forklift
• (d) Compliance inspection and enforcement
• (e) Communications

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Forklift registration

• Obtain approval and registration before
  stationing
• and operations of forklifts
• Requirements for registration
• Conduct physical inspections
• Risk Assessment before operations
• Valid insurance
• LTA registration / log card
• Yearly renewal of registration

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Risk Assessment

• Risk Assessment (RA) established by forklifts
  owners
• RA conducted by relevant and certified employee
  and
• endorsed by their management
• RA regularly reviewed for each type of
  operations/cargo
• handled

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Pre-Operation Checklist

• Forklift operator conduct a pre-operation check
  and
• document the check into a checklist before
  each
• operations
• Checklist must be made available for inspection
• Operator required to conduct check / test on
• Functional mechanism and lights
• Any visual oil leakage and damages
• Tire conditions
• Valid forklift registration

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Compliance inspection enforcement

• Fire Safety and Operations departments conduct
  regular site inspections on forklift operations
• Forklift with substandard / unsafe conditions
  required to immediately stop operations
• Verify forklift operators training record
• Check that Risk Assessment is conducted by the
  forklift operator

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Communications

• Safety bulletins/circulars are regularly issued
  to remind Port users of issues relating to safety
  of forklift operations (eg MOM alerts, safety
  incidents)
• Regular safety dialogues with forklift owners are
  conducted regularly on safety related matters

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BizSAFE

• Forklifts are used mainly as part of stevedoring
  
• operation
• Stevedores require a licence to operate at
• Jurong Port
• As part of the licencing requirements,
• stevedores required to achieve minimum bizSAFE
  
• level 3

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Conclusion
Many challenges are faced with forklift
operations. We should identify and understand the
hazards and limitation for forklift
operations. Failure to assess the risk and
comply with safe operating instructions will
result in incident that can cause personnel
injury and property damage.