On behalf of Castrodale Law, LLC posted in industrial workers’ accidents on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.
Forklifts are a vital piece of equipment used at all types of workplaces across Ohio. This machinery is heavy, and can be quite dangerous when not operated properly. That’s why there are accidents that occur that injure and even kill employees on the job. Here’s how you can prevent accidents involving forklifts at work.
You need to be mindful of irresponsible driving when a forklift is in operation at your place of employment. All drivers must be trained and certified to operate forklifts, which means that anyone not certified should never get behind the controls. Limiting those who can operate forklifts can help reduce the number of accidents at your company.
One of the most common types of forklift accidents is the forklift tipping onto its side. This most likely occurs when there is too much speed being used when turning the forklift. Make sure operators know that speed should be reduced when making turns or when navigating tight spots within the workplace. The forks on the lift should never be loaded above their maximum capacity.
When forklifts are operating at the workplace, it likely means there are workers on foot in the area. These workers are probably waiting to unload items being transported. Due to this, the operator must be acutely aware of the pedestrians in the area. If there is a spotter involved, the forklift operator should stop moving the machine if the operator loses sight of the spotter.
Now that you’ve read through some safety tips for preventing forklift accidents at work, you can ensure that your employees and coworkers are being safe. These accidents are easily preventable so long as all workers are mindful of their surroundings and know how to properly operate the equipment.