Forklift Safety 101: Essential Tips for Every Operator

Forklifts are industrial handling vehicles that greatly improve the transportation efficiency of loading, unloading, stacking and short-distance transportation of palletized goods. However, as special equipment in factories, forklifts have always been a high-incidence point for safety accidents. Here are some safety tips for forklifts to remind you to pay attention to safety during production operations!

By far, forklifts are one of the most used equipment in factories for moving heavy objects. Although this machine is a lifesaver for workers, it can also be a cause of serious injuries or even death. Forklift accidents are common. A large number of accidents occur every year, and according to reports, the number of forklift accidents is rising sharply. In such a situation, it becomes important for warehouse owners to implement safety measures to protect workers and workplaces. If you don’t know these precautions, it’s okay, because we are here to help you. In today’s guide, we will share with you 10 tips to make your warehouse safe.

01 Train every employee well

Most accidents happen because operators are not well trained in forklift management. As a result, they do not understand the functions or cannot manage the weight of the machine while driving. But all of these can be easily avoided if you train your employees properly. Even if someone has experience in the field, do not let them skip the training period.

At the end of the training, you will also know whether this person is suitable for the job. Proper training of operators is the first step to ensure a safe working environment.

02 Provide safety systems and safety clothing

Even if the operator tries his best, the situation may get out of control. For such situations, you must install a forklift safety system in your warehouse. This system will help you make sure that everything is done correctly and send you warning signals when something goes wrong. Another popular device installed in many factories is the forklift camera in the warehouse. A proper camera system will ensure that the driver can clearly see the surrounding environment while operating the machine.

Every machine must have a forklift speed limiter to avoid collisions. When you use all these forklift safety solutions together, the chances of accidents will be greatly reduced. In addition to these forklift safety solutions, also make sure that your workers are wearing: helmets, tight clothes, good quality safety shoes, work jackets, etc.

03 Regularly check forklifts Other safety considerations

Train your operators on how to check forklifts for damage. They must check various parts of each forklift, including brakes, tires, masts, steering, controls, etc. If any damage is found, the machine must be sent for repair. Unless the forklift is thoroughly repaired by professionals, it can no longer be used in work.

04 Forklift pre-start inspection

Whenever the operator is ready to drive a forklift, there are several things he must check before starting the engine: ·The angle of the mirror should be correct so that the driver can see the surrounding environment clearly. The controls must be working properly, especially the brakes, so that there will be no collision due to brake failure of the forklift, and the seat belt must be fastened

05 Things to remember when driving

Several things that must be considered when driving a forklift are:

1·Do not drive on undesignated roads

2·Control the speed within 10 miles per hour

3·Watch for road signs such as loading areas, low ceilings, and exclusive areas

4·Check the surroundings and understand the location of ramps and docks

06 Prevent dangers in advance

To avoid any misfortune, you can do the following:

1. Check carefully around for bumps, uneven roads or slippery paths

2. Do not leave any loose ropes hanging on the forklift

3. Always blow the horn to warn people.

4. Reduce speed when driving into doorways or corners

5. Keep a safe distance when braking

6. Keeping a safe distance from humans or other machines while driving is also a must

07 Remember safe loading tips

Some safe loading tips from experts are:

1. Never overload the machine

2. Place the load in a position that is slightly tilted backwards

3. Use skids to maintain balance

4. When the forklift is running, the forks should be placed low

5. Secure each piece of cargo with ropes

6. Check the ceiling area for obstacles

08 Keep the view tidy

In order to drive the forklift without causing any damage, clear visibility is a must. Here are a few tips on how to increase visibility:

1. Keep the load low so it doesn’t obstruct your view

2. Make sure the load is clearly visible from the driver’s seat

3. Install a forklift camera for the warehouse so the operator can get a panoramic view from the driving position

4. Get someone to help you fix the road

5. Don’t drive in bad weather conditions

09 Be careful when driving on a ramp

Always remember the rules of driving on a ramp. These rules will be taught to you during training. You can practice them often to memorize them. People who are not careful when driving a forklift on a ramp often encounter accidents. Therefore, always remember this tip.

10 Place the forklift in the appropriate area

Don't place the machine anywhere you want. If your other workers don't know where the forklift is, they may get injured due to a forklift accident. Therefore, make sure that each forklift in your warehouse has a designated parking space.

Eight prohibitions should be observed during operation

01 Single fork operation is not allowed;

02 The goods are not allowed to be lifted for long distances;

03 The method of picking up goods by forks is not allowed;

04 Chemicals, flammables and other hazardous chemicals are not allowed to be directly shoveled with forks;

05The inertia force is not allowed to pick up goods;

06 The braking force is not allowed to discharge round or easy-to-roll objects;

07 It is not allowed to carry people on the pallet or fork. It is strictly forbidden to stand under the fork after the fork is raised;

08 It is not allowed to drive horizontally on the slope.

The safety management of forklifts is inseparable from the training and safety awareness of employees. Every employee who operates a forklift should undergo professional training and understand the operating procedures and safety knowledge of the forklift. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the safety awareness of employees, let them always keep in mind the concept of safety first, and develop good working habits. Only through continuous training and the establishment of a safety culture can we ensure that the forklift is foolproof during operation.

In short, forklift operation safety is very important. I hope today's sharing can be helpful in your forklift use. If you need forklift parts, please contact us！