Forklift Safety
A forklift lifting a forklift? I’ve seen it all now. I don’t think we need to go over this with our readers but just in case… Don’t EVER do this. Here are some forklift basics to keep you on your toes not your derriere.
Pretty basic stuff here guys… first off, make sure you’re certified and competent. Follow everyday traffic rules. Always wear your seatbelt, follow posted speed signs (if your site or workplace has them) and use your best judgement. Use your horn! Let people know you’re there, don’t surprise anyone. It’s not a race, so that means no passing and give a few car lengths if you’re behind another driver. If you are parking it, always put your forks to the ground and never leave a running forklift unattended.
While carrying a load make sure you can see, if the load is extra high, drive in reverse. You may have to reverse depending on the incline or decline of the terrain. Watch your counterbalance. If you’re not carrying a load your forks should be low but off the ground. Never let anyone under your forks and please no forklift rides… It may look fun but I guarantee, that will be the minute that Safety comes for a visit, or worse someone WILL get hurt.
This is just the very basics. If you’re interested in driving a forklift please get certified. Click the link to book your forklift class with us. We will make sure you don’t end up like the senseless workers in this meme.
Employees and employers should work together to ensure a forklift is safe to use before getting behind the wheel.
It’s interesting to know that the operator should probably drive in reverse when the load is too high and you can’t see your way. I can imagine how important forklift training could be to remember tips like those. In my opinion, any kind of job that involved heavy machinery should definitely have people who are trained to protect the products and to avoid accidents that can lead to injuries as well.
It’s good to know that you should be a few car lengths behind another forklift driver. My brother was at my house yesterday afternoon helping me in my garden, and he talked about how he plans on having his employees take safety courses when they use the equipment at his work. I’ll pass this information along to him so he can know some extra safety tips.