Be Alert When Using a Forklift Truck
A lift truck is a large piece of machinery and hence safety measures should be taken when using these trucks. Forklift operators are required by law to be trained and qualified to drive the machine. Anyone who misuses a forklift truck can be charged with an offence. Abuse of this potentially dangerous equipment could cause serious injury or fatality. Safe operation of a forklift truck involves paying 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 being alert of other vehicles and pedestrians and keeping your attention on the road.
Essential forklift driving guidelines
Worksite mishaps are all too frequent. On the other hand, many accidents are preventable by minimalizing the risks while working with machinery that are both dangerous and heavy.
Rough surfaces and drops are usually encountered while operating a lift truck because most operating surfaces are relatively rough and uneven. The biggest hazards are dock platforms, dock bridges, bumps, pot holes, inclines and ramps. Forklifts are designed to deal with uneven surfaces, but it is up to the operator to keep control of the truck and to be on the lookout for these hazards.
One of the major factors in lift truck accidents is visibility. Operators are ultimately responsible for making certain that their lift truck is used with clear visibility. This can be helped by inspecting to make sure that mirrors are properly positioned and windows are unobstructed and clean. If a load is placed in such a way that it obstructs visibility for the operator, then the driver must put the lift truck in reverse and carefully back down the ramp.
Operators are required by law to ensure that every day inspections are made to the forklift and its components. On a weekly basis, more methodical inspections must also be done. The brakes, engine, forks, tires and so forth must always be checked to guarantee that they are properly working. Correct testing can help to avoid mishaps and injury.