Page 67 - OHS, September 2022

the forklift should be removed from service and sent to be fixed. Only authorized personnel should perform the repairs needed on the forklift, and they must adhere to guidelines when making these repairs. For example, if a part of the forklift needs to be replaced, the new parts need to be “equivalent as to safety with
those used in the original design,” OSHA says.
The third way to avoid the risk of forklift hazards is to protect
workers, both on and off the forklift. There are changes employers can make to their facilities to improve the health and safety of forklift operators.
Safe Environments. Employers should ensure that operators have a safe environment to drive the forklift in. Hazards like blind corners or items blocking the path can result in an incident. Forklifts can also be too big for the area they’re designed to work in. In this case, employers should take precautions to purchase the correct size forklift.
Pedestrian Safety. If pedestrians are walking in the same area as the forklift is operating, and keeping the two separate is unavoidable, there are steps you can take to mitigate worker injury. Designated walkways for pedestrians or forklift drivers ensure that everyone is where they are supposed to be. They should be well marked and well lit, with nothing blocking the path. Make sure pedestrians know to make eye contact with the forklift operator so they are aware of the location of the person on foot. No one other than the operator should be on the forklift.
Horseplay and giving other people a ride are not safe.
Practice Best Use. Forklift operators should also take precautions themselves. Every operator should follow the speed limit and the weight limit of the load for their vehicle. Make sure the load of the forklift is balanced and not blocking the vision of the driver. If a load is unbalanced, this can result in the load falling off or tipping the forklift over. Wearing a seatbelt is another great
way to ensure workers stay safe in the event of a rollover.
At the end of the day, an employer’s job is to keep workers safe. Forklift safety applies to more than just the forklift operator itself.
It applies to everyone.
Alex Saurman is a Content Editor for Occupational Health &
Safety magazine. REFERENCES
1. https://www.globenewswire.com/news- release/2020/05/22/2037524/0/en/global-and-china-forklift-industry- report-2020-to-2026-forklift-sales-are-expected-to-drop-as-a-result-of- covid-19.html
2. https://www.zippia.com/forklift-operator-jobs/demographics/
3. https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/forklifts-2017.htm
4. https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/forklift/accident.html
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