Taking Forklift Safety Precautions is Great. But How Do You Know It Works?

Forklift safety precautions should be a standard procedure when it comes to operating any type of machinery. But as we all know, lift trucks such as forklift, stand-ups, and pallet jacks always seem to be getting into trouble with bumping or hitting into other objects, equipment or sometimes people. When a forklift accident occurs, most often it is the operator who get injured or even killed. We need to do all we can to aid the forklift operator with the right forklift safety precautions. Let’s discuss a few.

What Does Forklift Safety Precautions Mean?

There are many hazards in an industrial facility regardless if you are a manufacturer, distribution center, warehouse or even a logistics company. Dangers lurk around every corner which is why forklift safety precautions are a necessity. Forklift safety precautions can include something as simple as wearing a seat belt, avoid sharp turns, avoiding unauthorized drivers onto a forklift, and of course, report all impacts to the supervisor or manager. Of course, there are many more, but let’s discuss these and what can be done to easily implement.

Wear a Forklift Seat Belt

This should be an easy one as when the forklift operator is going to or coming from work, there’s a pretty good chance they are wearing a seat belt in the car. Why that doesn’t carry over to the job…your guess is as good as mine. So, forklift safety precautions need to be made to ensure the seat belt is being worn. How?

One of the best ways is with a forklift safety system, by SIERA.AI. When technology is used, it can ensure the forklift operator does what their job demands… safety. If the forklift operator fails to put on their seat belt, the forklift will not start. Even if they start the forklift, begin to drive and then take off the seat belt… the forklift will stop. Will there be those few individuals that take the seat belt and click it together and put it behind their back? I’m sure of it. However, but remember, they will have to constantly deceive the system, and management especially if they make frequent stops. They will have to click it each time get back on the truck. If they have to take the extra step, just wear the seat belt. If a forklift accident occurs, it’ll be quickly known that they were not wearing a seat belt.

Avoid Sharp Turns with a Lift Truck

Not all aisleways are given lots of room to turn. Every inch of floor space represents dollars spent and dollars made. Conserving the floor space means making more money. That makes it challenging for forklift operators to turn their lift trucks. However, there are again, those few who disregard the space and will turn quickly, or at higher speeds, increasing the risk of a forklift accident.

This can be reduced with a forklift safety system that tracks the impacts whether it be low, medium and high so management can better determine what is going on in the facility and why it is occurring. These sharp turns put undue pressure on the lift truck which can cause it to tip to one side which can be fatal or cause serious injury to the lift truck driver or anyone or thing around it.

Unauthorized Drivers on the Lift Truck

There’s nothing more frustrating than a person trying to gain access to a dangerous machine. Forklift operators get certified for a reason. These machines are material handling machines, not cars, ATVs, go carts and the like. They are not recreational vehicles. They are working machines and people need to be knowledgeable on their operation.

With that said, technology on a forklift safety system restricts unauthorized people from gaining access to the lift truck. It doesn’t even allow them access. Further, if a driver is only certified on a class I and not on any other class truck, that driver cannot gain access to any other truck that what they are authorized for. As we’ve reported many times, teenagers, young children and adults alike have all been killed on forklifts because they were able to gain access. These individuals would not have been killed if the forklift safety system was installed.

Reports!

SIERA.AI’s forklift safety system tracks vital information directly to the telemetry Dashboard where information can be tracked, analyzed, and reports generated. This provides the ‘proof’ to management and to the drivers who have performed an action that should not have taken place. Tracking can be anything from:

• OSHA pass / fail
• Low, medium and high impacts
• Near Misses
• Unauthorized access

And much more…

Contact Us!

Contact us today at sales@siera.ai or call us at (512) 817 0702.