Be Alert When Driving a Forklift Truck
A forklift is a large piece of equipment and hence safety measures should be taken when utilizing these trucks. Forklift operators are required by law to be taught and qualified to drive the machinery. Anyone who misuses a lift truck truck could be charged with an offence. Abuse of this potentially dangerous equipment could lead to death or serious injury. Safe operation of a forklift truck involves paying attention both to what is happening inside the vehicle and to what is happening around the vehicle. Not different to driving a car, driving a forklift requires keeping your attention on the road and being alert of other vehicles and pedestrians.
Important forklift driving guidelines
Mishaps at the workplace are far too frequent. Nonetheless, lots of accidents are preventable by minimalizing the risks while working with machinery that are heavy and dangerous.
Uneven surfaces and drops are usually encountered while driving a lift truck because the majority of operating surfaces are relatively rough and uneven. The biggest dangers are bumps, pot holes, dock platforms, dock bridges, ramps and inclines. Forklifts are engineered to deal with rough surfaces, but it is up to the operator to keep control of the truck and to be on the lookout for these dangers.
Among the major factors in forklift accidents is visibility. Operators are ultimately responsible for making certain that their forklift is operated with clear visibility. This can be helped by checking to make sure that mirrors are properly positioned and windows are unobstructed and clean. If a load is placed in such a way that it obscures visibility for the forklift driver, then the operator must put the lift truck in reverse and back down the ramp carefully.
Operators are required by law to make certain that every day checks are made to the forklift and its parts. Weekly, more thorough exams should also be conducted. The forks, tires, engine, brakes and the rest should always be tested so as to guarantee that they are correctly working. Proper inspections could help to avoid mishaps and injury.