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Forklift Safety
For many breadwinners, operating a forklift part of their work routine. If you're into trucking you had better learn how to use one of them because many times their might not be enough driving and delivery so you'll have to settle for platform work at the terminal. Even if you're not into trucking you might be confronted with the tow motor for example working in some warehouse or lumberyard, garden center and so forth.
The advise on this page is from a man with eighteen years operating a forklift in a trucking business. Since this page covers the elements I've learned from my personal experience as a Hi lo driver it may not cover every aspect of safe operation. So one should not rely solely this advice but should consult the operating manual that comes with your particular machine, and receive professional training to ensure safe operation.
So since there will be times when you'll be faced with the need to hop on that funny looking contraption in order to get a job done. In my eighteen years of experience in operating the forklift I have found that they can be relatively safe; there's no need to be in great fear when operating one. But, there are safety precautions to be used when operating them; yes they do have the potential to maim and kill.
Here are some safe operating tips. And you probably noticed how I said "SOME" safety tips. These are not being all safety tips but are SOME of the tips that I can share. Please don't rely on this web page for your complete safety manual. The first and probably the best advice are to seek the proper training in operating the forklift. Before jumping on one and turning the key ask your supervisor. I'm quite sure he's in the best position to determine whether or not you're qualified. Yes following the above tips could even be meaning the difference between life and death.
Parking Brake Always engage parking brake when you leave forklift. Especially when the machine is idling. Actually it shouldn't be left idling. What's the point of running the forklift engine when it's not being used? If for some reason while it is idling and the parking brake is not engaged, there's the possibility of if getting knocked into gear and running off on it's own, maybe causing damage to freight, plowing into other workers or falling off the platform. It has happened.
Tip over. As you sit on the forklift you notice a warning about tip over. In the eighteen years I've been operating a forklift my occupation I have never seen a forklift tip over so there's no need to be in dread of it happening. But I've heard of it happening. And according to the information I heard a dockworker was paralyzed from it. Yes, It can happen. It almost happened to me many a times.
What is tip over? It's simply means that the forklift can tip over. Forklifts are tall machines, taller than the car you drive and when you attempt to make a turn at a high speed it will tip over and according to that metallic safety manual on the forklift it could result in serious injury or death. And if that should ever happen to you it could really ruin your day.
Slow down when making turns. How can you avoid tip over? Simple, use common sense, slow down before making a turn; actually you should slow down period. But what if for some reason, maybe you're not thinking and you make a turn while speeding like a demon and the forklift starts to tip and fall? What do you do? At that particular time it would be a little too late to look for some manual or even ask the supervisor what to do in that case. You have to think fast, real fast. You should rehearse in your mind before it ever happens what to do when the forklift tips over. When machine tips over you do not jump off the forklift, instead grab the steering wheel firmly and lean in the opposite direction of the tilt. If the machine tilts toward your left you should lean toward the right while holding on tight to steering wheel. If the forklift tilts right you should lean toward the left. However for more information I suggest consulting the operations manual for your particular machine.
Elevated platform. Most times when a forklift is used is on some type of elevated platform. And it's obvious what type of potential hazard this would present. The key is always looking back before you back up. Make sure the breaks are in proper repair. For more information consult you forklift operations manual. Be alert especially if you find yourself getting near the edge of the platform.
Blind Corners and Large Obstructions. This would include walls, riding past doorways, or large stack of freight where cannot see who's about to walk from behind and into your path. Exercise care when turning corners; use common sense, slow down.
When moving a large object that obstructs your view always go backwards when transporting it. This will enable you to see where you're going.
Look behind You. Always look behind you before backing up. Many times one may be concentrating on the cargo that he's transporting that one could easily forget to look back while backing up. From my experience you'll be surprise how often someone shows up behind especially while you're not looking, which could be disastrous. Can you imagine being pinned to the wall with by a 8,000 lbs. Piece of equipment. And especially if it's your supervisor that happened to be behind you, I can imagine that would not help your job security.
Keep Blades low. Never operate forklift when especially moving foreword while blades are high. Always lower the blades to the floor, maybe about a half inch off the floor; this will minimize the possibility of injury to others is for some reason they get struck be the blade. If someone gets his by the blade as catastrophic it may be, it's a lot better to get hit on the heal of the shoe than the ankle or shin or even in the face.
Hazardous Materials. Always have some type of knowledge of materials you're handling. For example if you're moving metal drums containing hazardous materials such as flammable or corrosive liquids, careless forklift operations can spell disaster. For example if one crashes into a drum of flammable liquids with his forklift blades that could result in a huge explosion as what actually happened a few years ago. And here again I must emphasize the importance of training in areas of hazardous materials. If one has knowledge of these materials and what type of hazard they present it could build respect for such materials and motivate you to be very cautious when working around such materials.
When loading drums on trailer always place a solid piece of plywood in from of drum to protect it against puncture by another dock man who might be loading a skid in the same trailer. Never use forklift blades to transport a drum unless there's a drum attachment connected to your machine. This will minimize the risk of puncture.
There are more safety tips coming so before starting to operate the forklift check operator's manual, ask supervisor, and get the proper training. And never operate equipment while drowsy taking medication that causes drowsiness, alcoholic beverages and so forth,
Keep Surrounding Clean. One of the best ways of keeping your warehouse or shipping dock mishap free is to keep your working area clean of debris and obstacles. I've seen pieces of wood become missiles after being rolled over by forklift wheels. This could cause severe injury to fellow workers and passerby in the area. And there is the possibility of being struck by a flipping hand-jack if ran over. Also being that most forklifts have no suspension of shock absorbers it can give the rider quite a jolt, which could be very bad on your back.
Pick up stray metal or plastic bands from off the floor and put them in garbage or dumpster. Plastic or metal bands especially if they're intact can become a major tripping hazard. I remember one dockworker was put out of commission due to tripping and falling off the dock. Don't wait for the next guy to pick those things up. The person who gets tangled up might be you or worse yet your supervisor. The same goes with wood especially with nails protruding out of them. If you get a nail in your foot you had better get medical attention quick or you'll risk the possibility of wearing a wooden leg for the rest of your life.
Oil spills and moisture can make the dock very dangerous. At times oil or some other type of liquid is spilled on the floor. Many time from the forklift itself, for an example hydraulic fluid. And at times from the cargo. What to do when confronted with a spill? If the substance is hazardous do not attempt to clean it up yourself, but get away from it and notify supervisor. And he'll instruct you what to do.
If it's been determined that the substance is not dangerous, use an absorbent such as speedy dry or as some might call it, Kitty Litter. Pour it over the spill. Take a broom and brush lightly back and forth over the liquid until the absorbent sufficiently absorbs the liquid. Then take shovel and discard it into a garbage can or dumpster. Don't just pour it over the substance and leave it like many do just for it to be trampled and spread all over the work area thus creating a breathing hazard. If the substance is a hazardous material such as flammable, it should be put in a special hazardous materials container.
Weather Conditions. At time moisture from the outside weather condition might cause the platform to become wet and slippery creating a dangerous traffic condition. It doesn't take much moisture for a forklift to go spinning out of control thus damaging cargo or injuring fellow workers. Under such conditions use common sense, go slow specially when passing fellow workers.
Look out for more Safety Tips in the future.
By Teddy Young
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