Forklift Pioneer Training

Forklift Safety

Always:

✓ Wear appropriate personal protective clothing as provided by employer.

✓ Carry out a pre-shift check of the forklift

✓ Report defects immediately to supervisor

✓ Make sure work path is free of obstructions

✓ Wear operator restraints, where fitted

✓ Look all around before moving off

✓ Look in the direction of travel

✓ Travel at a speed suitable for the location and the load carried

✓ Travel with the forks lowered, but clear of the ground ✓ Watch out for pedestrians

✓ Avoid sudden stops and violent braking

✓ Take care when driving on wet, icy , slippery or loose surfaces

Never:

✖ Operate a forklift unless you are trained, competent and authorised to do so

✖ Use a forklift or equipment you know is not working properly

✖ Operate controls from outside the cab, unless it is designed so you can do this

✖ Stand on or near the controls to reach the load or anything outside the cab

✖ Start or stop suddenly

✖ Make abrupt or quick turns

✖ Travel on uneven ground unless the forklift is suitable for this

✖ Run over unprotected cables or flexible pipes

✖ Try to carry out repairs – leave this to a qualified maintenance engineer

✖ Operate a forklift when under the influence of alcohol or drugs [prescribed or illegal]

✖ Use mobile phones or other hand-held devices while operating the forklift

✖ Use uncertified attachments

✖ Use an attachment unless a competent person, an authorised dealer, or manufacturer has derated the forklift [reduced actual capacity]

Information Sheet Forklifts are extremely useful workplace vehicles, as long as they are used safely and appropriately by operators who are appropriately trained and competent to use them. Forklifts can be dangerous: they account for 25% of injuries at work. Many workplace accidents involve people being hit or run over by forklift trucks (typically when the forklift is reversing) because the driver did not see them. Owing to their size and weight, injuries resulting from forklifts are generally very serious. Accidents involving them are often caused by poor supervision and a lack of training. The following forklift safety tips will help you and those you work with stay safe around forklifts. FORKLIFT SAFETY TIPS , What is a forklift?

 A forklift is a powered truck used to carry, lift, stack or tier materials. They include pallet trucks, rider operated forklifts, fork trucks, or lift trucks. They can be powered by electric battery or combustion engines. Forklifts are subject to statutory examination by a competent person once every 12 months in accordance with S.I. 299 of 2007 (Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007).This period becomes 6 months if the forklift is used to lift persons. What the law requires If you own, lease, hire or borrow a vehicle for work purposes, you must make sure that it is safe for use and fit for the purpose for which it is intended. Under health and safety legislation, a vehicle is a place of work. The law requires that workplaces are maintained in a condition that is safe and without risk to safety and health. Vehicles must be kept safe and fit for purpose and the driver must be able to get in and out of the vehicle safely. Forklifts also are classed as work equipment. Employers must make sure that drivers are familiar with the vehicle they are driving and that they have been given appropriate instruction, information and training to carry out required prechecks and to use the vehicle in the correct and safe manner, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.