10 Safety rules to follow when operating a Forklift
Forklifts are one of the most commonly used piece of equipment in warehouses. The success of supply chains rely on these industrial equipment’s to load, unload, and store a large volume of inventory on a daily basis in a safe and secure fashion.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) estimates that forklifts cause 85 fatalities per year; 34,900 accidents result in serious injuries and 61,800 are classified as non-serious. This means that 90% of all forklifts will be involved in some type of accident during their useful life-again assuming only one accident per forklift.
To avoid injuries, accidents and deaths in the workplace, here are some tips to follow.
1-Have a Forklift Certification
All forklift operators have to have a forklift certification before operating a forklift since many accidents are due to poor training.
2-Wear proper clothing
Forklift operators should always have a hard hat on, safety shoes and safety glasses. Always make sure to tuck away loose clothing to prevent it from getting caught on the forklift.
3-Know the Forklift class
Since each type of forklift has its own structure, weight limit, traveling speed, turning radius and usage, it is very important to know your equipment in order to follow best safety practices.
4-Inspect the Forklift daily
Daily checklist should be filled out. The shift supervisor is in charge of identifying and logging any problems or defects. Any equipment that requires repair should not be operated until fully repaired.
5-Implement a Floor Marking System
A floor marking system can help increase work safety.
6-Maintain Equipment Capacity
Always be aware of the capacity and any attachments of the equipment you are operating. Overloading a forklift can cause the rear wheels to rise off the ground and the whole machine to fall over causing injury.
7-Maintain a safe distance
Always be mindful of the surrounding equipment on the worksite. Always keep a safe distance to allow you to be able to stop safely to avoid unpredictable moving machinery and people.
8-Move at the appropriate speed
Each forklift has its own travel speed limits, make sure to follow them. Sudden stops, turns and change of directions could cause the forklift to tip over.
9-Refuel and recharge the forklift
It is important to keep the forklift fully charged and fueled.
10-Park the forklift at the end of the shift
After every shift, the forklift must be safely parked in its designated and authorized area.
Keeping your personnel safe is a priority. By following these simple safety tips, you could prevent a lot of accidents that could occur to your employees or equipment. Always be mindful that creating preventative measures will pay off. A safe warehouse is a productive warehouse!