Approximately 100 employees are fatally injured and approximately 95,000 employees are injured every year while operating powered industrial trucks. Forklift turnover accounts for a significant number of these fatalities.
Solutions:
Train and certify all operators to ensure that they operate forklifts safely.
Do not allow any employee under 18 years old to operate a forklift.
Properly maintain haulage equipment, including tires.
Do not modify or make attachments that affect the capacity and safe operation of the forklift without written approval from the forklift’s manufacturer.
Examine forklift truck for defects before using.
Follow safe operating procedures for picking up, moving, putting down and stacking loads.
Drive safely–never exceed 5 mph and slow down in congested or slippery surface areas.
Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay.
Do not handle loads that are heavier than the capacity of the industrial truck.
Remove unsafe or defective forklift trucks from service.
Operators shall always wear seatbelts.
Avoid traveling with elevated loads.
Assure that rollover protective structure is in place.
Make certain that the reverse signal alarm is operational and audible above the surrounding noise level.