Royal Forklift not only sells the best material handling equipment available, but we also offer forklift safety training in Allentown, PA. Our professionals have years of experience, and we’ll make sure all of your employers learn how to operate your equipment correctly. According to OSHA (The Occupational Health and Safety Administration), an average of 85 people die yearly from forklift accidents, and about 35,000 are seriously injured. We’ll make sure your workers avoid this kind of horrible situation.
8 Steps Toward Safe Forklift Operation
If you’re not in the Allentown area, we still want all of your workers to stay safe. Here are eight tips to help make sure that happens.
- Get Your Employees Certified
This will help keep your workers safe and give you peace of mind. If people have the proper training, that will help avoid severe accidents. Only those certified in save forklift operation should be able to operate one.
- Wear the Right Gear
Whenever someone is at the helm of a forklift, they should wear hard hats and safety shoes. They should also wear brightly colored clothing – or at least a safety vest – to ensure they can be seen at all times. Never operate a forklift while wearing loose clothing since it could become caught in the machinery.
- One at a Time
This should go without saying, but no one other than the driver should ever be on a forklift. The only exception will be if the forklift has a second seat fitted properly and securely. Also, never use the forks to lift anyone onto a warehouse shelf. You’d be surprised at how often this happens.
- Know the Load
Every operator should be thoroughly familiar with the capacity of the forklift they’re driving. Different models have different load capacities, turn radius, speeds, and more.
- Inspect Routinely
An operator should never start a forklift without thoroughly inspecting it first. This means checking the tires, forks, brakes, steering, tires, and all other components. They should also look for any leaks that may have occurred.
- Mark Your Floors Properly
If you have a busy warehouse, traffic jams can lead to severe accidents. Mark all pathways and lanes specifically for forklifts, and make sure all potential hazards are clearly marked. This will help anyone on foot know that they’re on a path where a forklift could be approaching.
- Keep Your Loads Stable
All forklift loads need to be adequately secured and properly balanced. The load should be tilted backward, and the forks should ride as low as possible when the machine is in motion.
- Always Be Alert
If workers were more aware of their surroundings, that would drastically reduce the number of forklift accidents that occur yearly. Never use a forklift anywhere close to other heavy machines unless there is no alternative. Forklifts should always be kept at a safe distance from any other objects or people.
The professionals with Royal Forklift would love to tell you more about our forklift safety training in Allentown, PA. Just call (800) 318-6722 or use our online form.