Forklift Safety

All warehouses and loading docks are using forklifts.

The usefulness of a forklift on a construction site, makes everything more easy and safer for our health. Thats why we have strict requirements for the certification of anyone who will be operating a forklift. The training is done to make sure that the person not only knows how to safely operate the forklift but also what to do in an emergency situation.

Training can give an operator the needed safety procedures that should be followed while operating a forklift. However it can not make them follow them. If training was a surefire way of eliminating the risk of a forklift accident, there wouldn't be the high number that there is everyday.

Can you prevent accidents?

Statistics have shown that everyday there are around 260 such accidents (California). Every year there are about 95,000. About every three days a person is killed in one of these accidents. You can prevent some of these accidents.

It is not always the opperator that get injuried, but often a person working in the area/ vicinity of the forklift's operation. People who work around forklifts should also be trained on how to watch out for these heavy duty machines that are carrying heavy loads.

What is the effect on productivity?

Some operators still find this big machine to be an over sized toy. This should never be the case but sadly it is, and supervisors should do more to ensure that all work conditions are kept safe. To most business, the safety of peoples is not taken into the discussion of productivity and profits. With poor safety due to an operator not operating a forklift safely, productivity goes downs, as well as the profits.

Safety should be a team effort in preventing a forklift accident. Accidents are not always the operator's fault. But some accidents happen when circumstances change and an unforeseen hazard is presented.

Worn out parts on the forklift can lead to this unforeseen hazard.

Inspections before operations

It is extremely important that inspections before operation are done every time, before using the forklift. This will help the operator to have a better chance of spotting any malfunction prior to an accident happening. Should anything look off with the forklift, it should not be operated until a repair technician has checked the forklift over and cleared it for operations.

When all workers observe forklift safety procedures and adhere to regulations, the number of forklift accidents declines. This creates a safer work environment for all workers. It also increases productivity and company profits. It reduces the amount of damage to equipment and thus reduces equipment costs that are associated with the repair and replacement of damaged forklifts.

- This is a win-win situation for all workers as well as for the company.