Accidents happen without Forklift Safety

Each year, forklift truck accidents account for tens of thousands of severe injuries or deaths across the globe because of a lack of forklift safety.  Forklifts are employed all over the world on construction sites and various industrial settings. Fork trucks are typically the most dangerous piece of material handling equipment used in a manufacturing facility, construction site, or storage facility. Forklifts are a tip over risk when moving heavy loads, and are generally fairly fast resulting in many accidents involving fellow workers when proper forklift safety is not observed.

Without attention to forklift safety what are some common forklift accidents:

1. A forklift might tip due to uneven or over loading.
2. Unsafe operation resulting in pedestrians getting struck.
3. The load falling due to fast speeds or improper securing.
4. Fork trucks should not be casually used to lift people.
5. Forklifts accidentally get driven off loading docks, especially hazardous when roll-over cages are not present.
6. Using a forklift attachment, a jib boom, they can operate like cranes, but without care this creates a swinging hazard.
7. Improper or no forklift maintenance, including missing or malfunctioning safety devices.
8. Poor operating conditions, like narrow isles, or poor visibility to address loads or see other people – use a spotter.

Many of these issues can be resolved by proper forklift training according to OSHA.

A collage of forklift accidents. Check out the guy that loses his potatoes and the Indians who put the forks into the ground. Hope you get some laughs, but forklift accidents are serious business – not a laughing matter.

Make sure you have a training program that values forklift safety.