Technical Knowledge: Safety and Handling Equipment
Safety and Handling Equipment tests safe use of forklifts, conveyors, cranes, manual handling, fire response, and warehouse housekeeping. The exam favours the rule that prevents the accident, not the fastest shortcut.
Core rules
- Forklift stability triangle: keep the centre of gravity inside it. Capacity is rated at a stated load centre; a longer load centre reduces safe capacity. Travel with the load low and tilted back, no riders, sound the horn at blind corners, and park with forks on the floor.
- Manual handling: lift with the legs, keep the load close, avoid twisting; use a team lift or trolley for awkward loads.
- Conveyors: guards at nip points, emergency stops, no riding or walking on belts.
- Cranes and slings: never exceed SWL; inspect slings; no shock loading; use tag lines; keep people out from under suspended loads.
- PPE: helmet, safety shoes, gloves, high-visibility vest, and harness for work at height.
- Fire classes: A solids (water or foam), B flammable liquids (foam, CO2 or dry powder), C gases (dry powder), D metals (special powder), and live electrical equipment (CO2 or dry powder, never water).
- Housekeeping: clear aisles, stable stacks, rack load limits, wheel chocks.
Worked example
A forklift is rated 2 tonnes at a 500 mm load centre. The load's centre is at 700 mm. Reasoning: the load moment increases, so the safe capacity falls below 2 tonnes; the operator must use the capacity chart, not the badge figure, or use a larger truck.
Traps
Using water on an electrical or oil fire; assuming the rated load is safe at any height or load centre; standing under a suspended load; leaving forklift forks raised; and blocking fire exits with stock.