Forklift Safety

1
Forklift Safety
2
Disclaimer
The information presented in this presentation
has been compiled from sources believed to be
reliable and is intended to be a tool to assist
and guide you in building your own presentation.
This program may not address all the hazardous
conditions or unsafe acts that may exist. For
that reason, SPIN cautions users to confirm
accuracy and compliance with the latest standards
and best practices. Local, State/Provincial and
Federal regulations take precedence over this
material. Implementation of any practices
suggested by this program is at your sole
discretion, and SPIN will have no liability to
any party for any damages including, but not
limited to, direct, indirect, special or
consequential damages, arising out of or in
connection with the information provided or its
use.
3
Forklift Safety Training

• Safe operating procedures of a forklift
• The pre-operation inspection checklist
• Safe loading and unloading of trailer
• Safe fueling procedures
• Written Evaluation
• Operator performance test
• Retraining

4
Most Common Accidents

• Person or object struck by forklift.
• Material falls on bystander or operator.
• Operator is injured getting on or off equipment.
• Forklift tips over because the rated load
  capacity is exceeded, or the load is handled
  improperly.
• Approximately 34,000 injuries a year.

5
Safe Operating Procedures

• Employees must be trained and authorized before
  operating a forklift.
• Know all safety devices and functions.
• Mount and dismount correctly
• Perform pre-operational inspection
• Never operate a forklift in need of repair
• Never operate a forklift for any purpose other
  than what it was designed for

6

• Keep hands and steering free of slippery
  material.
• Operate the forklift only from the operators
  position.
• Always travel at safe speeds.
• Never allow any other person to ride on the forks
  or anywhere else.
• A safety platform is the only exception, because
  it is designed for a passenger.

7
Fueling Procedures

• No smoking or use of open flames
• Shut off the forklift before fueling
• Avoid breathing the fumes
• Be sure you are using the proper fuel (Taxable
  Diesel)
• Avoid overfilling the tank
• Clean up any spills before starting the unit
• Replace the fuel cap
• Watch for leaking fuel lines
• Wear eye protection and other protective gear

8
Pre-Operational Checklist

• All forklifts will be inspected before each shift
  of operation.
• If repairs are needed, it will be tagged Out of
  Service until repairs are completed.
• A work order will be completed identifying repair
  needs.

9
Pre-Operational Inspection
BASIC FORKLIFT PRINCIPLES
10
Pre-Operational Inspection
11
Leaving a Forklift Unattended

• Fully lower forks
• Neutralize controls
• Set brakes
• Turn off the motor and remove the key
• If parked on an incline, block the wheels
• Never park in front of emergency exits

12
Picking up loads

• Never exceed the rated capacity of your unit
• Forks must be spaced properly
• Be sure the load is stacked properly and is
  balanced
• Secure the load to the pallet
• Drive into load as far as possible
• Tilt the load back slightly then lift it
• Watch for overhead objects or side objects
• Lower load 4 to 6 inches above ground level for
  travelling

13
(No Transcript)
14
Lifting Principle
15
(No Transcript)
16
Traveling with loads

• Pedestrians have the right-of-way
• Look in the direction of travel
• Forks should be 4 to 6 inches above ground level
  if terrain permits
• Mast should be angled slightly back
• Slow down and sound horn when approaching blind
  corners
• Drive in reverse if your forward vision is
  obstructed

17

• Do not lift or lower a load while travelling
• Go down an incline in reverse and up an incline
  going forward
• Turning to fast can cause a load to shift or fall
• Starts and stops should be gradual
• Never let anyone ride on your forklift
• Be aware of slippery surfaces, bumps or holes
• Safe following distances (at least 3 vehicle
  lengths)
• Keep limbs inside compartment
• Seat belts must be worn at times while in
  operation

18
Trailer Operations

• ENSURE THE TRAILER FLOOR IS RATED FOR THE
  VEHICLE WEIGHT
• VERIFY THAT THE TRAILER FLOOR IS IN SERVICEABLE
  CONDITION
• ENSURE THE FORKLIFT WILL NOT UNBALANCE THE
  TRAILER
• USE ADDITIONAL TRAILER SUPPORTS IF UNBALANCING
  IS A RISK
• CONSIDER THE INTERIOR TRAILER HEIGHT
• ENSURE THE TRAILER CANNOT ROLL AWAY FROM THE
  DOCK
• CONSIDER LIGHTING AND INCLEMENT WEATHER

19
Stacking Dropping Loads

• Never stand under a load that is raised
• Always move slowly when the load is raised
• When stacking insure that the load is level and
  secure
• Stack round objects tightly together and place
  chock or block
• Be careful when backing out of a load where a
  pedestrian is in your pathway

20
Lift Classifications Rated Load Capacity

• The maximum amount of weight that can be safely
  lifted.
• The rated capacity of a forklift can be found on
  the identification plate on the forklift, or in
  the manufacturers Operators Manual.
• To test the loads weight, the operator
  should 3 Lift the load one or two
  inches 3 Make sure it is firm and
  stable

21
(No Transcript)
22
As a Safety Professional, SPIN encourages you to
submit safety resources that are particularly
beneficial to fellow Safety Professionals. We
welcome your suggestions and thank you for your
input. Please use the following instructions when
submitting resources. 1. Please include your
full name (first last) in the subject section
of the your email 2. Please include a brief
description, name of program and version of any
and all files submitted 3. Please use a
compression program, like WinZip, when submitting
multiple or large files 4 Please include
appropriate contact information (name, phone
number, etc.) when referring potential new
members 5. Include links to safety related
URL's in the description section 6. Please send
photos and graphic files as 72 dpi jpg, tif or
gif files submit all items to
info_at_spin-safety.org
For more information about SPIN visit the
web-site at www.spin-safety.org or call
1-800-673-0439