Forklift Safety
While we depend on forklifts to help us in our jobs, we must also depend on our own safety sense to protect us from accidents and injuries. Because all workers have an increasing role in the necessity of forklift safety, remaining accident-free demands a conscious daily effort on the part of everyone at the plant.
There are three major areas of forklift safety including:
- Knowledge of the Characteristics/ Operation/Limitations of the Lift Truck
- Knowledge of the Job Hazards That Are Present During Forklift Operation
- Knowledge of General Safety Rules That Apply to All Forklifts
While operators suffer the most fatalities, the most injuries resulting from forklift accidents are suffered by pedestrians and co-workers.
- The most common forklift injuries result from pedestrians being run over by the truck or being struck by its load.
- Many accidents occur because persons working around forklifts assume that the forklift will move in a certain direction, only to discover that the driver had another direction in mind.
- Accidents also occur when forklifts are used by those who have little or no knowledge about their operation.
Safety Lessons:
- Never attempt to operate a lift truck unless you have been trained and authorized by your company to do so.
- If you are an operator, know and understand the stability of the truck and its load.
- When loading and unloading, observe all safety procedures and practices.
- Always drive the forklift safely with your safety and the safety of others in mind.
- As a pedestrian, always be aware of the presence of forklifts in the area and keep a safe working distance from them at all times.