Forklifts Safety and Training Importance
Forklift safety is a major concern for warehouse operators as forklift related deaths have been a major cause of industrial deaths and accidents nearly every year for the past 20 years. On average, there are over 100 deaths in the United States every year. 10's of 1000's of injuries occur each year from accidents that could have been avoided by proper forklift training. The most common injury or death occurs when a forklift tips over, a pedestrian is hit, the operator is not paying attention, or falling loads.You may want to check out Scissor Lifts for more.
A very common accident occurs on the loading dock when a driver pulls away from the dock while the forklift is still in the process of loading. This, as with nearly all other accidents are preventable. Communication between the driver and the forklift operator is clearly the problem here. Forklift operators need to have procedures in place for nearly all their duties to ensure safety for themselves and others.
OSHA requires that your forklift operators meet or exceed the requirements of the OSHA standard 1910.178. Toyota forklift dealers offer great operator safety programs. In most cases, the forklift training program can take place at your facility. Contact your local Toyota forklift dealer for more information.
Toyota also uses an ingenious system on their forklifts to help alleviate roll over and other instability accidents. This is called the System Active Stability or (SAS). This system reduces the likelihood of lateral and longitudinal tip over. It works by sensing if the forklift is becoming unstable and will adjust the axle to compensate.
Be sure that your forklift is properly maintained by an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician. Your local forklift dealer should have service plans available to help keep your fleet in top shape. Only use the manufacturers recommended forklift parts.
Carrying loads low will help keep the forklift balanced. About a foot off the ground is best. Do not operate the side shift mechanism while the forks are raised.
Never allow any horseplay on or around your forklifts. In 2003, a teenager was involved in a fatal forklift accident. He was standing on a forklift when it suddenly went backward. The forklift crashed through closed loading bay doors and fell four feet on to the ground. The teen fell off the forklift and it landed directly on him. There are countless instances of people being badly injured or even killed because of horse play.
Your forklift fleet should be examined daily by your forklift operators at the beginning of their shift. A checklist should be utilized and turned in at the end of the shift. Make sure the forklift operators know that safety is the number one issue. You do not want someone to bypass a safety issue with the forklift because they do not want to report it.
There are far too many preventable forklift accidents each year to count. Using the suggestions above is a good start in the prevention of these type accidents. Most of all, be sure to employ forklift operators that understand the dangers involved and employ common sense values. Forklift safety should be the highest priority.
