New permits planned for more work vehicles

New licensing requirements for work vehicles are intended to improve workplace safety, Kringvarp Føroya reports.

A permit is currently required to operate a forklift, and the plan is to extend the requirement to other work equipment.

“This is a welcome step forward for workplace safety,” said Esther Dahl, HR and HTU manager at Faroe Ship.

However, the change will require employers and operators to reorganise some procedures. Dahl said this could be challenging, particularly at the beginning, and stressed that the rules should not be introduced overnight so companies have time to adapt.

Although more licensing requirements are being introduced, some vehicles, including stackers, will still not be covered by the regulation.

“A stacker is a powerful vehicle, considerably larger than a forklift, for example. Whether its exclusion is an error or whether there is a reason we do not know about is unclear,” Dahl said.