We all know that many companies employ forklifts and that forklift operators do the main bulk of this kind of labor. These machines are powerful and there is always risk involved when they are used by people who have not been trained on operating them safely. The National Traumatic Occupational Surveillance System registered 1530 worker deaths from forklift accidents between the years 1980 and 2001. Of these accidents, the biggest portion at 22%, most were caused by a forklift overturn. Collisions between workers on the ground where the ground worker died accounted for 20% of deaths. Another 16% of deaths were caused by someone being crushed by the forklift and 9% by an operator falling from the forklift. In fact, each year almost 100 people are killed and another 20,000 injured from forklift accidents. With proper training and diligent safety practices most of these deaths could have been prevented. If you work around forklifts or are a forklift operator you should learn all you can about using these machines safely to prevent injury or death. All forklifts fall under the category of ‘powered industrial trucks,’ but they are not all the same. Forklifts can be either battery powered or run on gas or diesel fuel. They also come in different sizes and have different functions according to the kind of work in which they will be used. Each type of lift is characterized by a class. Knowing which class of forklift you will work with should help you to understand its safety features and potential hazards. We encourage you to ask your forklift drivers to take a look at these 10 easy-to-remember rules and to do their best to follow them at all times. More forklift safety resources: https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/articles/forklift-safetytips/ https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/infographics/forklift-accidents-causes-prevention/ https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/resources/forklift-safety https://www.forkliftsafety101.com/

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Forklift

2. While there are many other forklift safety rules that are pertinent
to forklift drivers, these are some of the top rules that should
always be followed and taken into consideration.
When forklift drivers
transport loads safely,
it enhances the safety
for everyone else in the
workplace as well.
10 Forklift Safety Rules

3. Use Safe Speeds
10 Forklift Safety Rules
1
A safe forklift speed is a speed
that is reasonable and prudent
to the work environment.
The faster a forklift travels, the more the risk
increases for injury if a collision was to occur.

4. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Avoid Abrupt Stops2
It is important that forklift drivers stop
with ease, versus just sudden breaking.
Abrupt stops can compromise the safety
of the load as well as anyone in close
proximity to the load as well.

5. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Pedestrians Always
Have the Right of Way
3
Just like when traveling in a
vehicle, a forklift driver should
always be aware of pedestrians
and give them the right of way.

6. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Don’t Pick Up Other Riders4
Almost all forklifts are designed for driver riders
only, unless the forklift has been specifically
designed to accommodate an additional rider.
Never allow additional riders to board the forklift,
as this can create an unstable balance and also
block the driver’s line of view.

7. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Be Aware of Fork Position5
The position of the forks is
crucial when driving a forklift.
The forks should always be positioned as low
as possible (but high enough to clear bumps)
when traveling throughout the work facility.

8. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Keep The Load Level and
Stationary when in Motion
6
Never raise or lower loads on
the forks while the forklift is in
motion. This limits the stability
of the load and may cause an
unsafe imbalance.

9. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Slow Down & Sound
Horn at Corners
7
Corners are often the most
hazardous areas for forklift
traffic due the natural
inability to see around a
corner before approaching it.

10. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Keep Right / In Lane8
Many people have a natural
instinct to stay right when
driving forklift because in the
U.S. we also drive motor
vehicles and stay to
the right as well.

11. continued...8
However, sometimes it is possible
to forget this rule and veer out of the
lane to the left or right. This then
becomes a safety hazard as some
pedestrians or other forklifts may be
utilizing the other lanes.
10 Forklift Safety Rules

12. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Watch Out for Blind Spots9
Unfortunately, many workplaces
have blind spots in their facilities.
These are spots where it is hard
to see into unless you are in the
blind spot, then it is hard to see
out of or around it.

13. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
continued...9
Forklift drivers
should always
exercise extra
caution when
approaching or
entering these
areas.

14. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
Keep Alert to Floor Conditions10
This is something that is easily overlooked
by many forklift drivers.

15. 10 Forklift Safety Rules
- Spills
- Loose sand or dirt
Keep Alert to Floor Conditions10
These can all be dangerous to a forklift driver
with a load in transport as they may cause
the forklift to slide or slip and lose traction to
the floor.
- Grease spots
- Oil smears

16. We have you covered.
Creative Safety Supply works with
companies both large and small to help
them with their Labeling, Software and
Signage needs.
We also carry a host of PDCA, Lean, 5S,
6S Kaizen, Kanban and Continuous Improvement products.
CreativeSafetySupply.com • info@creativesafetysupply.com
10 Forklift Safety Rules

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