Safety tips when driving a forklift
Forklifts are safe equipment for moving, lifting and placing particularly heavy merchandise. But this does not mean that the operator should not use good practices in order to avoid possible accidents.
In fact, most accidents are caused by operator errors. And given the size and weight of the cargo, any mistake can be dangerous and costly.
Therefore, to protect the health of the operator and other workers, as well as to avoid material damage, in this article we provide four useful tips that allow you to operate a forklift safely.
- Examine the equipment before using it:
The operator must do a routine inspection of the forklift, between each work shift, before starting to use it. This will make it possible to detect faults, damage or notorious problems that could cause an accident.
Among the parts that should be examined are the brakes (including the emergency brake), the controls, the steering, the lights, the mast and the tires. If any deficiencies are found, other personnel should be warned that the forklift should not be operated.
Then, it is recommended that the repair be done by qualified persons and original spare parts be used.
- Drive at a safe speed
Although forklifts do not reach high speeds, it would not be safe to maneuver at full speed, especially if you are transporting cargo. First, the permitted speed limits, if any, in the warehouse or workspace must be observed. Click Here for forklift repair in Houston Tx Area
It is also recommended to take curves and turns slowly to reduce the risk of tipping, which can cause a rollover. Similarly, we recommend not stopping, moving forward, turning or changing direction suddenly. This should be done gradually and slowly, and even more so if you are driving in reverse.
Driving at a moderate speed will also avoid collisions and make it easier to stop the vehicle if you must yield to other vehicles or even pedestrians.
- Calculate the correct load capacity
The operator must know the approximate weight of the load to avoid overloading the vehicle. Of course, you also need to know the estimated load capacity of your forklift.
If there is excess weight, the vehicle can lean to the sides when trying to turn and cause a rollover. For this reason, the operator must always pay attention to the maximum weight indicator indicated on the panel and never exceed it.
- Make sure the load is stable
The stability of the load is essential to maneuver and transport the merchandise safely. To achieve this, the forks must be spread as wide as possible so that the weight is distributed evenly. Likewise, the operator must ensure that the load is centered, which will help with stability and balance. For this, you can use ropes or fixings so that the load does not move when the vehicle is moving.
Conversely, never lift or move loads that are not secure or stable, as they may fall and cause damage and injury.