In order to operate any type of forklift, specific OSHA requirements need to be met. Several businesses offer basic awareness training to other people like visitors and office staff or sales people and other non-operators who may venture into the warehouse or yard. Though OSHA doesn't particularly address lift truck pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers should take measures in order to protect employees from certain risks, like pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
A huge concern which will have to be dealt with is pedestrian safety. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH; approximately 20 percent of all forklift mishaps consist of a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means roughly 19,000 people on an annual basis.
Nonetheless frequently or briefly individuals are around industrial trucks in their work day, there are several basic steps which must be taken so as to keep everybody safe. One of the main considerations is that forklift pedestrian mishaps often occur in situations where the pedestrian is not aware of safety precautions. Problems also occur more often when the pedestrian ends up complacent since she or he has become used to frequent interaction with lift trucks.
So as to avoid putting yourself at potential risk of being struck by a forklift, there are some common situations to look out for. Among the most common issues is when pedestrians did not see the forklift. Numerous operations have different degrees of intersections or blind corners that pedestrians have to be aware of. At times pedestrians do not hear the lift truck. Be careful of the various kinds of power sources. Like for example, electric trucks could be a lot quieter than internal combustion engines which are really loud.
The other main problems are when pedestrians come in too close proximity of the machine. Common sense tells us that in order for a pedestrian to be injured by a lift truck, the pedestrian needs to be near to be struck. For a forklift that is working, a four foot safety zone is suggested in order to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This really helps to address risks like the unit driving accidentally over a pedestrian's foot.
To make certain that the workplace safety remains paramount and stays top notch, following and the implementation of strict safety protocol is key.