4 Steps to Implement Forklift Safety for Pedestrians

Forklift safety for pedestrians is key to an injury-free facility. As manufacturing, warehouse and distribution centers offer large open spaces where forklifts move in all directions, one false step by a worker or pedestrian and now you have an injury or worse. To prevent workplace accidents, managers need to focus on how to maintain forklift safety for pedestrians.

What is Forklift Safety for Pedestrians?

Forklift safety for pedestrians is meant to prevent pedestrians from getting within harms distance from a lift truck. According to the NSC, National Safety Council, there were 7,290 nonfatal injuries in 2020 where workers and pedestrians were away from work in 2020. By implementing a forklift safety for pedestrians program, this number can be reduced for maximum productivity of workers.

4 Ways to Implement Forklift Safety for Pedestrians

1. Train Workers on Forklifts: One of the best ways to understand the power and uncertainty of a forklift truck is to give pedestrians training similar to forklift operators. For pedestrians to learn about the weight / load balance, driving in reverse, the inability to see around the forklift, the difficulties of balance, driving and obstructed views when carrying a load, are all vital components to understanding the challenges and dangers of what a forklift operator goes through each day. The goal is to educate the pedestrian on why you cannot rely on the forklift operator to know you are near or around the forklift.
2. Designate Pedestrian Walkways: Wherever possible, designate clearly defined areas where pedestrians can walk out of the way of forklift. This may not be possible in all work areas as forklifts and workers may need to be in the same aisle at the same time. This is where a forklift safety system can help. In the meantime, in main areas of the facility, designated walkways is a good way to implement forklift safety for pedestrians.
3. Signage: Posting signs on the floor or walls in areas where blind spots are most prevalent can be helpful. When a forklift is carrying a load and turning corners can be a weak spot where the forklift and pedestrian can accidentally meet. Posting signs in these areas can help the both to slow down, take a look around before crossing or turning in these high risk areas.
4. Forklift Safety System: Investing in a forklift safety system can reduce the number of encounters, near accidents and accidents from occurring. There are two parts to the forklift safety system: OSHA compliance with impact detection and pedestrian detection with near miss monitoring. For the purpose of this article, pedestrian detection will scan every 60ms searching for pedestrians and objects. When a pedestrian or object comes within the pre-defined ‘danger zone’, then the forklift operator will be notified with audio and visual warnings where the operator can take action.

Summary

The combination of these four steps will make your facility safer for both the forklift operator, pedestrian and worker. It’s critical for pedestrians to be knowledgeable on the forklift and its dangers and the forklift operator to be armed with a pedestrian detection system that will alert the operator when busy and focused at the task at hand.

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