Dealing With Load Handling

Forklift safety also extends beyond the equipment.

Loads and load safety is also crucial – understanding the properties of the load itself, transporting the load and storage of the load.

Understanding and adhering to load capacity, which is the maximum weight a forklift can carry safely, is paramount.

Not only can overloading damage a forklift, but it also creates health and safety risks to you and your workmates.

It’s important to weigh the load before transportation, to ensure it fits within these guidelines.

Falling loads are also a danger.

Forklifts will often need to raise loads quite high, which can result in falls. Each time a forklift carries a load, correct safety procedure needs to be followed, including ensuring that pedestrians and forklifts are in designated areas, and that loads should not be moved unless they are well secured.

And of course, remembering that forklifts are for raising loads, not people. Scissor lifts should be used instead.

Strains, Sprains and Good Ergonomics

Often, operating a forklift involves looking up when stacking objects, and looking behind while reversing.

This can cause neck and back strain, if performed on a regular basis.

Additionally, driving on uneven surfaces can result in back stress.

Ways to mitigate the risks of sprains and strains include ensuring the operator’s cabin is in good condition, using vision aids, maintaining level surfaces in the operating area and using forklifts that have been ergonomically designed.

Why Forklift Maintenance Is So Important

One of the best ways to prevent forklift breakdowns and other mechanical failures is through thorough and consistent forklift maintenance.

Proper forklift inspection, through using an operator checklist helps mitigate the risk of operating a forklift that is unsafe.

An operator checklist should look at things like the tyres, fluids, seating, warning devices, breaks and operator controls.

This way, if something on the checklist doesn’t meet the required safety standard, the forklift should not be operated until it is safe.

Being Aware Of Pedestrians

A traffic management plan safely defines and separates pedestrian areas from other work areas.

This aims to remove the risk of forklifts and people/the environment colliding.

A good traffic management plan requires a risk assessment.

The best people to assess the work environment are those who work in the environment each day.

This includes the OHS Representative, workmates, supervisor and forklift operators.

Once these risks are identified, then control measures to remove or reduce the risk must be developed.

Some key steps involved in traffic management include:

• Clearly defining the forklift and pedestrian areas, using signage
• Putting barriers in place to separate pedestrian and forklift zones
• Using proximity devices to trigger signals and boom gates
• Ensuring pedestrians wear high visibility clothing and/or reflective vests
• Providing training on forklift traffic safety to anyone who enters the site
• Ensuring forklift operators stop work if pedestrians enter a pedestrian exclusion zone

WorkPro offers a module library that caters to any business size and industry, written by subject matter experts.

Our modules are designed with engagement in mind, so you can educate your workforce without creating induction fatigue.

You can access the Forklift Safety module, and many more industry-specific and general training modules in our library here, or for a free WorkPro trial, click here