Be Alert When Using a Forklift Truck
A forklift is a huge piece of machine and hence safety precautions should be taken when utilizing these trucks. Forklift operators are required by law to be trained and certified to drive the equipment. Anyone who misuses a forklift truck can be charged with an offence. Abuse of this potentially dangerous machinery can result in fatality or serious injury. Safe operation of a forklift truck involves paying full attention both to what is happening inside the vehicle and to what is happening around the vehicle. Not unlike driving a car, driving a lift truck requires keeping your attention on the road and being alert of pedestrians and other vehicles.
Important forklift driving suggestions
Workplace accidents are all too frequent. On the other hand, many accidents are preventable by lessening the chances while working with machinery that are dangerous and heavy.
Uneven surfaces and drops are usually encountered while operating a lift truck since most operating surfaces are relatively rough and uneven. The biggest hazards are generally bumps, pot holes, dock bridges, dock platforms, inclines and ramps. Forklifts are engineered to handle rough surfaces, but it is the operators responsibility to keep control of the truck and to watch out for these dangers.
Visibility is among the key factors in lift truck accidents. The operator is responsible for ensuring clear visibility when utilizing a lift truck by inspecting that mirrors are positioned correctly and that all windows are unobstructed and clean. If a load is positioned in such a way that it obscures visibility for the forklift driver, then the driver should put the forklift in reverse and back down the ramp with care.
Operators are required by law to ensure that daily checks are made to the forklift and its parts. On a weekly basis, more methodical inspections must also be done. The tires, forks, engine, brakes and the rest must always be tested to ensure proper working order. Correct testing could help to avoid accidents and injury.