Forklift Safety: The Hazards and Prevention Measures
A forklift is a machine that not everyone can use. A person needs to be trained, certified, or licensed to operate it. There are jurisdictions that specifically allow only competent or authorized people to handle the powered lift trucks along with other requirements (age, years of experience, etc.). The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) laid out the B335-15 or the Safety standards for lift trucks including a lift truck safety program development and implementation, truck trainer qualification standards, operator training, and maintenance and repair practices among others.
Even with standards implemented, every operator needs to address the elephant in the room — that operating forklifts comes with risks. These are the 4 major hazards to address:
- Attachments
Forklifts have attachments that play a role in the smooth functioning of the machine. The attachments include drum clamps, rotators and push-pull elements, and carton clamps. These attachments may extend the length and width of the forklift, make it heavier, and affects its capacity.
- Work environment
The space where the forklift is operated is an important consideration in determining the basis of it being a hazard. Some of the scenarios to consider are:
- The use of combustible fuel-operated machines within a poorly ventilated area.
- Inefficient lighting.
- Operating in a space with multiple ramps.
- Operating on dirt and gravel.
- Loads
Forklift load hazards can include:
- Imbalanced loads
- Carrying heavy loads on high forks
- Blocking the operator’s vision
- Unmonitored stacking
- Loading of flammable materials
If the operator is not trained and qualified for the job, the potential hazard increases.
- Pedestrians
Some of the major accidents for forklifts involve pedestrians. The accidents include but are not limited to the following:
- A blocked view makes it difficult for operators to see the pedestrians in their way.
- Turning the forklift toward a side where there is a pedestrian.
- Being unaware of pedestrians.
In these situations, finding a personal injury lawyer in Hamilton can help with compensation claims. However, accidents can be avoided if preventive measures are taken.
How to Prevent Forklift Accidents
Photo by hermaion: https://www.pexels.com/photo/forklifts-in-the-warehouse-11500419/
Here are some of the ways to keep everyone safe when working with forklifts:
- Proper usage – One of the reasons why formal training is necessary is because forklifts are prone to improper usage. A person operating it should have all the needed training certificates to reflect their knowledge of properly handling this machinery.
- Clearing blindspots – Apart from operators, pedestrians should also be aware of where the blindspots are. They need to limit traffic in these places and make the person driving the machine comfortable driving backwards.
- Secure loads – Forklifts have limits and individual attachments. Everyone in the team must observe closely and keep the load secured and strapped. They should also make sure that the loads are within the capacity to avoid accidents.
- Proper maintenance – Keeping a machine in its best shape means giving it the proper maintenance. After a few uses, inspections should be done. Before anyone uses the equipment, there should be tests and assessments to understand where maintenance is most needed.
- Docks and ramps – All machine operators should be aware of how to use ramps, truck lifts, and docks. Another person with training and experience can also be paired with those who are yet to master this skill.
- Fueling – The staff should be made aware of the safety practices when the forklift is being fueled. Because it means dealing with a flammable liquid, smoking should be prohibited and a fire extinguisher should be available all the time.
- Using safety gears – Using a forklift rear guard available in Toronto and other provinces is just one of the ways to avoid potentially deadly situations. It is designed to protect operators against injury should there be an accidental rear-ward collision.
Forklift operation is a lucrative job because of the high demand. However, it can pose hazards that should be prevented. Aside from training, a person who drives this machine should also be mindful of safety standards.