Workplace accidents and injuries on construction sites sadly happen more often than anybody would like. Based on statistics, a huge majority of these mishaps occur as a result of wholly absent or inadequate safety training and protocols. A machinery such as a lift truck can be a really dangerous piece of equipment if utilized improperly.
With nearly all types of equipment, proper maintenance is the first step towards maintenance. You must make sure that the equipment is functioning at an optimum level before attempting to utilize it and you should never try to utilize something that doesn't seem to be working correctly. Safety is always first!
In general, there are several pertinent safety tips that are key to help using construction and warehouse machines. For starters, the shovels, tines or other lifting parts should never ever be utilized to transport people. This machine is not an elevator or a moving work station. It is a heavy-duty piece of industrial equipment which should be respected always.
Before lifting any load, it is vital to make sure that the cargo is properly balanced and settled on your forks. Any unwieldy or poorly centered object has a possibility of falling off the forks and possibly injuring passers-by or co-workers. As well, whatever is being transported can easily end up broken.
It is never a good idea to stand between a wall, the load or other surface and the forklift. The operator of the forklift may not be able to see precisely where you are from their position and could accidentally end up crushing your arm in between objects if you are not paying attention. It is never a good idea to be hanging around equipment which is in use.
Get to know the machinery's particular load bearing characteristics and follow the restrictions. Extreme injury and damage can occur if you try to raise anything that is very heavy or too large. Moreover, take note of your load's speed and height while you are moving it to make sure you are within the correct safety parameters.
Operating a lift truck in a safe way could greatly lessen your chance of accidents in the workplace. Injuries and product damage could be avoided easily as long as everybody takes the time to make sure that they are following the safety guidelines set out by the manufacturer for that particular unit.