Shutdown or Keep Working – Forklift Safety Newsletter – October 2015
Sep 30, 2015
Forklifts can exhibit little problems or big problems. When you have a problem with your equipment, should you shutdown or keep working?
Contractors – Forklift Safety Newsletter – September 2015
Aug 27, 2015
It’s not uncommon for contractors to use the host company’s forklifts. But is this a good practice? Before you decide answer these four questions.
Forklift Written Program – Forklift Safety Newsletter – August 2015
Jul 29, 2015
A forklift written program is an essential tool for developing safe behaviors in the workplace. They provide a semi-permanent reference that ensures everyone is following the same set of rules which are specific to that work location. The next time you review your written program, see if it addresses these five key points.
Forklift Stability: The Basics – Forklift Safety Newsletter – June 2015
Jun 9, 2015
Operators need to know that most forklifts have a three-point suspension which results in a stability triangle, and it’s the operator’s job to keep the center of gravity (CG) within this triangle. But the CG is constantly changing as the forklift and the load are moved, raised and lowered. The closer the center of gravity gets to the edge of the triangle the more likely the unit is to tip, especially in the case of a sudden turn or deceleration.
Exceeding Forklift Capacity – Forklift Safety Newsletter – May 2015
May 6, 2015
Have you ever been tempted to exceed a forklift’s capacity? Even by just a little bit? In this article we look at the pros and cons of exceeding forklift capacity.
Forklift Data Plate – Forklift Safety Newsletter – March 2015
Mar 26, 2015
When was the last time you looked at the forklift data plate? Is it scratched? Corroded? Missing? While some operators believe their equipment can carry any load that doesn’t lift the rear wheels off the ground, they’re wrong. Operating equipment beyond the limits specified almost guarantees an incident or near miss. So let’s take a closer look at the data plate and see what we can learn.
Forklift Driving Test – Forklift Safety Newsletter – February 2015
Jan 28, 2015
What Should Be Included in a Forklift Driving Test? Using a forklift driver test for “evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace”. OSHA regulations require that the employer ensure that each forklift operator is competent to operate a forklift safely. This is accomplished through a combination of classroom and practical instruction and finally by an “evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace”; i.e. a forklift driving test. But who is qualified to administer the forklift driving test and what should it consist of?
Forklift Challenge – Forklift Safety Newsletter – January 2015
Jan 14, 2015
When was the last time that your forklift operators had a chance to show off their skills and have a little fun? I’m not talking about doing donuts in the parking lot. I’m talking about participating in a forklift skills competition; sometimes referred to as a forklift challenge or a forklift rodeo.
Forklifts and Fires – Forklift Safety Newsletter – December 2014
Dec 2, 2014
Do forklift fires pose a hazard? Absolutely. And are all your forklifts equipped with fire extinguishers? Hopefully. Let’s review some of the main ways that your forklift can create a fire hazard.
Near Miss Investigations – Forklift Safety Newsletter – October 2014
Oct 7, 2014
Near miss investigations are essential to understanding a forklift accident. While we readily investigate accidents, we are often reluctant to investigate near misses. But ignoring near misses means missing a chance to improve safety.
State of Your Warehouse – Forklift Safety Newsletter – September 2014
Sep 2, 2014
The state of your warehouse reveals a lot about your safety culture. How does yours measure up?
Material Stacking – Forklift Safety Newsletter – July 2014
Jul 15, 2014
Forklift operators are often faced with the challenge of material stacking a wide variety of products. Each product has different characteristics that requires forklifts to stack using different techniques and to different heights. But one principle holds true. No matter what, material stacking fails if the bottom isn’t adequately supported. So, how high should I stack?
Should Forklift Operators Be Trained and Certified on Every Model of Forklift They Will Be Operating?
Jul 7, 2014
Many facilities use numerous types and models of forklifts. While employees often feel that once they are certified on one forklift they should be qualified to operate any of them; is that really the case?
Mounting and Dismounting Forklifts – Safety Newsletter – June 2014
Jun 16, 2014
You might wonder why anyone would write a forklift safety article on something as basic as mounting and dismounting forklifts. Does this really pose a hazard? The answer is yes, and the hazard is worse when operators are mounting and dismounting many times during their shift.
Forklift Backup Alarms – Forklift Safety Newsletter – May 2014
May 11, 2014
Forklift backup alarms generate a lot of discussion. They can be annoying in an already noisy environment, and operators have even been known to stuff material into the horn to muffle the sound. But this equipment plays an essential safety role. I’m guessing that everyone reading this has, at one time, been alerted by the beep-beep-beep of an approaching vehicle. So do you need forklift backup alarms? In general, yes. But the answer isn’t quite that simple.
Forklift Blind Spot – Forklift Safety Newsletter – April 2014
Apr 15, 2014
We loved those books and helping our kids find Waldo amid a sea of distractions. But what about when we’re operating forklifts in areas with pedestrians ? How easily can we find Waldo in a forklift blind spot and avoid a collision?
Pedestrian Safety – Who Has Right of Way? – Forklift Safety Newsletter – March 2014
Mar 10, 2014
Pedestrian safety and forklift safety go hand and hand. Many people feel that pedestrians have right of way since they would, most likely, suffer severe injury if there was a collision. Who has right of way – pedestrian safety or forklift safety?
Forklift Seat Belts – Forklift Safety Newsletter – January 2014
Feb 12, 2014
We have all heard the excuses as to why operators don’t want to wear forklift seat belts. “I don’t have time; I’m up and down on the forklift all day long.” “My forklift doesn’t even have seat belts.” “If OSHA required seat belts it would say so in the rules.” So, are forklift seat belts required?
Forklift Incident Investigation – Forklift Safety Newsletter – October 2013
Feb 11, 2014
Accidents while operating a forklift require a forklift incident investigation to understand what caused the accident.
Forklift Mechanics Corner – Forklift Safety Newsletter – December 2013
Feb 11, 2014
Did you ever come to work and YOUR forklift was broken down? So, you start looking for the spare forklift to operate. You find the old clunker sitting in the corner and remember how poorly the controls work, the seat is cut up and doesn’t adjust very well, and it’s filthy. The thought of having to operate it for the entire shift makes you cringe. The thought of having to repair it makes the forklift mechanics cringe too.