National Forklift Safety Day, sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association, will serves as a focal point for manufacturers to highlight the safe use of forklifts and importance of operator training. This day provides an opportunity for the industry to educate customers, policymakers and the administration on forklift operating safety practices.
Powered industrial trucks, or forklifts, originated in the United States in 1917. Since that first lift truck, annual sales have grown to more than 190,000 in the U.S. alone. Forklifts are used to move and lift materials and offer load capacities from a few thousand pounds up to 180,000 lbs.
OSHA enforces regulations regarding the manufacture and operation of industrial trucks. The Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF), which is accredited by ANSI, and UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.) develop the safety standards for designing and manufacturing industrial trucks. National Forklift Safety Day will provide greater awareness of safe practices and in turn encourage safer behavior.
In honor of National Forklift Safety Day, here are the top five pedestrian safety tips to follow when working with forklifts:
- Use dedicated pedestrian walkways:
Pedestrian walkways are similar to sidewalks and crosswalks found on our streets and roads. - Stop, look and listen for oncoming traffic:
Forklift operators are trained to honk the lift truck’s horn when crossing an intersection, when going around corners, and whenever their vision might be obstructed. Be aware of these sounds. - Make eye contact with drivers:
Just like everyday vehicle, forklifts have blind spots. When you make eye contact with drivers, this ensures that the operator is aware of your presence. - Know that a truck needs adequate time to stop:
Forklifts are very heavy pieces of equipment that are designed to carry heavy loads. Likewise, lift trucks are not designed to stop suddenly. Rather, they are designed to minimize the damage to the load and to maintain stability. - Stand clear of lift trucks in operation:
One of the forklift operator’s jobs is to keep the product from being damaged. Therefore, the operator might be focused on the pallet load and not aware of a person standing around the lift truck.
It is important that forklift drivers are also aware of pedestrians in the warehouse. Following are the top five safety tips for lift truck operators to follow:
- Give pedestrians the right-of-way:
Always stop when pedestrians walk across your planned route. Wait until the person or people have passed by and continue cautiously through any congested area. - Never drive close to anyone:
If there is not enough space to travel, warn pedestrians and ask them to move. - Look in the direction of travel:
If there is not a clear view, do not move the lift truck. - Stop and sound the horn when approaching an intersection, crosswalk or exiting an aisle:
Warn pedestrians and other forklift operators that a forklift is coming. - Approach and leave aisles slowly:
Drive cautiously and use alarms when entering and exiting warehouse aisles.