Forklift Safety Standards
Getting your forklift license is just the beginning of learning how to safely and efficiently operate forklifts. You won't be an expert in operating them immediately after being granted a license either. For perspective, this is what it looks like from the forklift operator's view. Check out some of these forklift safety standards below.
You know the essential tips such as keeping the forks as low to the ground as possible and paying close attention to your surroundings constantly all while loading and unloading your deliveries in the correct order and with speed and accuracy. That requires quite a bit of mental fortitude and that's just the basics!
Still, the real expertise comes from mastering the mechanics and safety of these vehicles, while added safety measures, like guardrails, will ensure a safe work environment.
OSHA Standards For Forklift Operators
There are many rules and regulations OSHA has outlined as the basis of safety standards for all forklift operators to abide by, but they clearly state that these rules are the minimum requirements and that forklift safety should exceed them.
The standards can be found here and outline everything from personal protective equipment to training and break down into specific activities like loading and unloading.
WireCrafters GuardRails Can Make a Forklift Operator's Job Easier
Workers can be injured by forklifts when lift trucks are accidentally driven off loading docks, when forklifts fall between docks and an unsecured trailer, when the worker is struck by a forklift, or when the worker falls while on elevated pallets and tines.
Our GuardRail system is designed to protect people, machinery, and property from accidents involving forklifts, sweepers, or other moving facility equipment. Our GuardRails are also designed and tested to withstand the impact of a 10,000-pound load moving at 4 miles per hour (See the GuardRail System Impact Test Report). As you can see below, it can even withstand a little more than a 10,000-pound load moving a little faster than 4 mph.
To see an explanation of our GuardRail system, watch this episode of Mondays With Milt. We've even demonstrated how well our GuardRails work in one of our episodes. We had 10,250 pounds of material on a forklift and (on purpose) had an operator drive the forklift into a guardrail going 4.5 mph. See how it ended here.
Our GuardRails are a bright yellow color, which ensures they stand out in every kind of environment they're placed in. So as forklift operators are driving through their facilities, they can clearly see where our guardrails are placed and as with most of our products at WireCrafters, we can create custom guardrail systems too.
Forklift drivers are pivotal to a plant or shop throughout a variety of industries. Their work literally drives production for a company. As you saw in our video, sitting in the driver's seat of a forklift is a powerful position but not an easy one. People who drive forklifts are top of mind for us when we manufacture our GuardRails. Considering that an estimated 85 fatalities and 34,900 serious injuries occur ever year from the use of forklifts, according to OSHA statistics, we think it's so important to maximize your safety, not only through the required protocols and refresher trainings but with resources such as our GuardRails.
Take these forklift safety standards and work them into your work life. It will keep you and those around you safe and secure.