Forklift Tips

Enforce a Daily Vehicle Inspection Checklist - Requiring employees to complete a safety checklist before operating a vehicle is an essential step to protecting both your employees and your vehicles.

Require Effective Employee Training - Most work-related accidents are usually due to either reckless actions of employees or a lack of knowledge on proper handling of equipment. A mandatory training program is essential to ensure all operators are not a risk to themselves and those around them.

Require Safety Gear (PPE) - Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory when working in a facility. While the specifics vary from job-to-job, the most common PPE include hard hats, high visibility jackets, safety goggles, gloves, and boots.

Enforce a Clean Work Environment - Every aisle, loading dock and passageway where material handling equipment is used should have safe clearance heights marked. When transporting loose or unboxed materials, it’s important to secure all objects by blocking, interlocking or limiting the height to prevent objects from falling. In addition to falling hazards, a cluttered storage area can lead to tripping, fire, explosion or even pest infestations.

Require Lockout/Tagout Procedures – A company must provide lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures when an authorized operator finds that there is an issue where the truck isn’t safe to operate. The LOTO procedures must include how to properly shut down equipment, disconnect its power supply and eliminate/release stored hazardous energy. The truck must remain in LOTO until the repairs are made by a qualified person and returned to service.

Provide Safe Charging Station Procedures - A charging station can be a hazardous work area for employees as it is routinely exposed to large amounts of chemicals from batteries and chargers.

To protect employees when using a charging station, OSHA recommends a few necessary procedures:

• Provide adequate ventilation to disperse fumes from gassing batteries.
• Prohibit smoking and open flames in and around charging stations.
• Provide an eye-washing, safety shower facility, and PPE for employees exposed to battery acids.
• Follow trained guidelines and scheduled maintenance

For more information about partnering with Raymond Storage Concepts and how we can help with your training, contact us.