3 Common Causes Of Forklift Accidents In The Workplace
Posted on: 1 February 2016
You and your employees probably rely on your forklifts to move heavy equipment and stock around your place of business. Although forklifts can be quite important to the day-to-day operations of your business, they can also be quite dangerous and can result in serious injuries if you and your drivers are not careful. By understanding the common causes of these accidents, you can take proper action to prevent them. This can help you keep your employees safe and can also help reduce property damage issues.
1. Irresponsible Driving
Unfortunately, irresponsible driving is a common cause of forklift accidents in the workplace. Forklifts can be a lot of fun to drive and can lead to a lot of horseplay if you aren't careful. It is critical to ensure that all of your forklift operators are properly trained and licensed. Then, you should address any issues with horseplay or irresponsible driving. It might not seem like fun to be the one to crack down on these things, but irresponsible driving can be extremely dangerous and can put everyone in the area at risk.
2. Improper Loads
If a forklift is not loaded correctly, it can be at a much greater risk of tipping over or otherwise being involved in an accident. It is important to have a solid understanding of the weight restrictions for loads that are carried on your forklift and to ensure that your employees always abide by them. Along with teaching your employees about properly-sized loads, you should also talk to them about safe loading. For example, it is critical for materials and equipment to be evenly loaded so that the weight is evenly distributed. Otherwise, tip-overs and other types of accidents can occur or the forklift can become more difficult to handle.
3. Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can be harmful or even deadly, but they are surprisingly common when forklifts are involved. Ensure that all of your employees are aware of the dangers of forklifts, and make sure that you mark the floor and use proper signage to keep employees aware. Forklift operators should also be taught to drive carefully and to use the horn to notify employees that they are approaching an area.
Forklift accidents in the workplace can be scarily common. Luckily, once you understand some of the more common causes of these accidents, you can take the proper steps to help keep everyone as safe as possible.
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