There are too many warehouses in the country that aren’t taking forklift safety training seriously. Our warehouse consultants work with warehouses every day who have seen the damage that a forklift can do when the correct safety precautions and best-use practices aren’t put in place. Unfortunately, all too often this negligence can lead to serious injuries and even death for warehouse workers. Here are some quick facts about the danger of forklifts in the workplace:
- Nearly 100,000 workers are injured by forklifts every year in the United States.
- 85 people will die due to a forklift accident.
- 42% of accidents are caused by the forklift tipping over.
- 25% of injuries are from someone being crushed between the forklift and another surface.
- The manufacturing industry experiences the most accidents.
- 70% of accidents could have been prevented.
That means nearly 70,000 forklift accidents could have been prevented every year. So how do you prevent your warehouse from joining countless others who have seen the devastation that the careless use of a forklift can cause?
Training is vital.
Your warehouse teams need to be trained regularly on forklift safety. Once isn’t enough. Even if a team member has been a part of your warehouse for decades, they should still attend forklift safety training regularly as a way to refresh the information in their minds. Training will cover topics such as operating limitations, how to handle restricted visibility, stacking and unstacking, navigating narrow aisles and much more. Even those who are not operating a forklift should be briefed regularly on safety rules about working around the machinery.
Follow the rules.
All the training in the world won’t do you any good if you don’t follow the rules. Have a zero tolerance for rule-breaking when it comes to the forklift. Set a good example for your crew by following the rules yourself. Make sure that no one under the age of 18 and who doesn’t have a valid operators license drives the forklift. Allowing an unlicensed operator behind the wheel not only puts your team at risk, it opens you up to a huge liability risk.
Retrain when needed.
If an operator on your team is involved in an accident or has a near miss with the forklift, they have to be retrained. These are OSHA rules, and not following them could result in a fine. This isn’t to punish the person involved in the accident; instead, it will help them refresh on the rules and regulations involved in operating a forklift and avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
Are you concerned about an issue of safety, cost, or efficiency in your warehouse? Our warehouse consultants may be able to help. Give us a call or contact us through our website and let us know what issues are plaguing your warehouse. From inspection to layout and automation, we do it all and we can help you improve your warehouse. Talk to our team today to learn more about all of our services and to get started with a consultation with our team.
