Production factors such as speed or stress common cause of forklift accidents
Posted: March 5, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Operator Safety Leave a comment »Canadian Occupational Health & Safety has cited production factors such as speed or stress among the top causes in forklift accidents (lack of training is the first). So for all those operators out there, take it slow and keep it low.
If you have not been trained get your company to train you:
Beware of lending your forklift to a neighbour
Posted: February 27, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Supervisor Leave a comment »This one is for managers to think about. We all like to be good neighbours but what if the warehouse next door wants to borrow your forklift (because their own is broken, perhaps)? Are their operators trained? Who is liable if their operator has an accident on your machine? While a good neighbour does not bring in a lawyer to draft a contract for this kind of exercise, some questions should be asked before you just say yes.
Using attachments on your forklift
Posted: February 27, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Equipment Safety, Forklift Operator Safety Leave a comment »If you use a special attachment on your forklift – like a carpet pole, boom, clamp, etc. – remember you need to be trained to use this and that the capacity and stability of your forklift is reduced. You should consult the manufacturers of the forklift and the attachment.
Pre use inspections of your forklift
Posted: February 15, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Equipment Safety Leave a comment »When you get on a plane you hope that it has been checked over before take-off.
Forklifts and scissor lifts must be inspected before use as well. This involves a visual check and then an operational check. It doesn’t need to take long but it does need to be done and documented. The best way to ensure this becomes a regular and meaningful activity is to keep a binder of checklists on or near the machine. Operators are responsible for doing this and supervisors are responsible for making sure it is done.
Why do it? Same reason as the pre-flight check on the plane, to make sure everything is operating correctly and that the forklift is safe to use.
For more useful forklift safety resources: http://www.martinsforklift.com/forklift%20safety.htm
“Experienced, smart worker” drowns in forklift, Western Stevedoring fined $145,000
Posted: February 5, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Operator Safety Leave a comment »This extraordinary accident happened in North Vancouver in May 2010. More information became available in court last week. It really makes you think.
Fall from order picker
Posted: January 31, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Operator Safety Leave a comment »The order picker style of forklift where the operator goes up with the machine, brings its own hazards. We really liked this WorkSafe BC review of a recent accident and subsequent recommendations:
http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/Multimedia/Slideshows.asp?reportID=36608
If you use one of these machines, please wear your fall protection equipment at all times, falling even just 10′ onto a concrete floor will harm you.
In a forklift accident who is responsible, who pays?
Posted: January 23, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Operator Safety Leave a comment »Interesting to note in this forklift accident the company was fined for not training the supervisor:
http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/9481901.Firm_is_fined___5_000_after_forklift_driver_injures_hand/
Remember, penalties can be applied to the company, the manager, the supervisor and the operator.
Forklift accidents continue
Posted: January 23, 2012 Filed under: Forklift Operator Safety Leave a comment »We sometimes start our courses with the question “why is this training necessary?” – all too often we hear “because it’s the Law”. Well, that is true but ultimately it is to ensure workers have the knowledge necessary to operate safely. Still, accidents continue to occur too frequently. Here are a couple that occurred recently, read them and see if you think they were preventable?
http://www.wpxi.com/news/30240610/detail.html man killed by forklift carrying scrap
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/01/man_in_flint_suffers_fractured.html leg fractured in forklift accident
Time to be nice
Posted: December 15, 2011 Filed under: Forklift Operator Safety Leave a comment »While we are usually talking here about ways forklift safety can be improved, now is the time of year to congratulate all the very good forklift operators out there. There are lots of operators, supervisors and managers trying to do their best. Happy Christmas to you all!
Cell phones and forklifts
Posted: October 11, 2011 Filed under: Forklift Operator Safety Leave a comment »We are sometimes asked if it is legal to use a cell phone on a forklift. While there is no specific regulation on this subject, distracted driving is never good. And WorkSafe BC’s Occupational Health & Safety does say in Section 16.5:
“16.5 Operator’s responsibility – the operator of mobile equipment must operate the equipment safely, maintain full control of the equipment, and comply with the laws governing the operation of the equipment.”
So if you must use a cell phone while on the forklift take sensible precautions – stop what you are doing, put the controls in neutral, put the parking brake on, put your forks and load down, stop in an intelligent place not blocking others, and then and only then answer the phone.
