Forklift safety comes down to training and supervision. You can’t expect an untrained operator to drive safely, and even after professional training operators need to be supervised on an ongoing basis. Employers are responsible for ensuring operators have the right training.
Author: Martin's Forklift
Don’t fool around with forklifts
This is a real WorkSafeBC incident report: “Three workers entered a work yard as a forklift operator was loading a semi-trailer. The three workers communicated to the forklift operator that they were all in a safe position but one worker snuck up behind the forklift to scare the operator. The forklift was in reverse, and […]
Forklift training in 2019
2018 again saw too many forklift accidents, from tip-overs to collisions with pedestrians and damaged products or racking throughout BC. The best way employers can minimize accidents is to make sure operators have been properly trained. Don’t become a statistic in 2019, get professional on-site training.
Forklift safety – look at the big picture
Employers, forklift operators, co-workers please remember that forklift safety is everybody’s responsibility, as summarized in the regulations. This means that operator training should be part of a larger comprehensive lift truck safety program that includes ongoing identification and prompt correction of hazardous situations; as well as monitoring and supervision to ensure that lift trucks are operated in […]
Forklift safety training tip
This is a classic example of a badly parked forklift. Forks are a serious tripping hazard for everybody. You an easily break your ankle or be cut by incorrectly positioned fork tips. All forklift training programs must cover correct parking and shutdown procedures. And guess who most often falls over the forks – the operator! […]
Forklift load safety and operator training
Unstable loads are dangerous and can cause injuries. Even a light box flying off the forks or falling from height is going to harm pedestrians in its path. Forklift operator training must cover load safety. Operators need to be able to assess if a load is within the capacity of the forklift, stable on the […]
Do a safety inspection before using your forklift
An important part of our training program includes a pre use safety inspection of the forklift. Operators often forget or feel pressured to miss this key step to safety. But it is crucial that it gets done and done properly. If it’s not safe, don’t use it, tag it out and report it to your […]
Heat awareness for forklift operators
Driving a forklift outdoors in the summer can make you really hot. There is no air con, and if your overhead guard has a plexiglass cover you feel like you are in greenhouse, plus the engine is right under your butt. Employers make sure you give these drivers a break. Heat exhaustion leads to accidents. […]
Forklift park brake use
Operators and pedestrians have been killed or seriously injured due to forklifts rolling when unattended. Operators must put the park brake on even when they are just getting off the forklift for a brief time. If you must park your forklift on an incline, the wheels should be chocked as well. How to safely park a […]
Forklift safety starts here
An amazing number of operators are injured when getting on and off their forklift. Slips, trips and falls are still one of the most common causes of workplace accidents. So here is the rule: use 3 points of contact mounting or dismounting the forklift – this means either two hands and one foot, or one hand and […]