Animated forklift raising forks with empty skid

Liftright.net - Forklift Safety Awareness

Factors Contributing to Forklift Accidents

 

Home

 

Forklift Safety Basics

 

Circle Check

 

Stability Triangle

 

Lifting and Moving

 

Pedestrian Safety

 

Traveling On Inclines

 

Loading Trucks

 

Forklift Accidents

 

Handling Propane

 

Legal Issues

 

   

 

 

 

Operate industrial lift equipment as if it could kill, it does!

Behavioural / Operational Factors

  Excessive speed

 

  Lack of worker training. 

 

  Improper vehicle restraints on trucks and trailers.

 

  Inadequate servicing of the forklift 

 

  Improper backing, turning, braking.

 

  Improperly parking the forklift. 

 

Forklift Accidents

 

  Walking and working in the general area of forklift operations. 

 

  Poor communication during shared tasks, or in shared spaces.

 

  Improper warnings to others of forklift presence.

 

  Allowing passengers on the forklift or load.

 

  Non-acceptable behaviours, horseplay, showing off

Never take safety for granted, accidents can happen anywhere, anytime.

 

Characteristics of the Workplace

 

  Narrow, crowded, or cluttered aisles.

 

  Intersections and doorways.

 

  Concentrations of traffic.

 

  Type of materials being stored or moved. 

 

  Visibility restrictions and obstructions

 

  Lighting conditions, shadows and glare

 

  Condition of loading dock.

 

  Ramps, inclines or different surface conditions.

 

  Potholes or obstacles on the ground

 

  Other factors - noise, odours, toxic gases, dust.

 

Know your work area, learn the hazards

Operational Systems

 

  Production factors - speed, stress, lack of proper attachments or accessories 

 

  Policies and procedures

 

  Age of forklifts.

 

  Maintenance program.

 

 

Characteristics of the Load

 

  Poor palletizing.

 

  Damaged Skids.

 

  Load too heavy.

 

  Load unstable.

 

  Load blocking vision.

Never try to move an unstable load, fix it first!