A forklift operator or hoist truck operator is a key figure in many industrial work locations and manufacturing operations such as warehouses, ports, factories, mine sites, construction and building and distribution depots. In addition to loading and unloading goods, the forklift driver also has to interface between different workers or different locations on the production line.
Being a forklift driver is position of significant responsibility, says a supplier of fork lift trucks in Perth, G&M Forklift Hire – requiring that they make sure that their pallet truck is in good working order and that any loads that they pick up are safe and secure. Even if the lift trucks that are being used are only for a short-term project and have been hired, the onus generally still lies with the driver to make sure everything is in good working order.
The organisation has to support its staff however, and it is imperative that a set of safety operating procedures are in place for the operation of forklifts which should be updated regularly and communicated clearly to the forklift driver.
The organisation should:
· Ongoing training on all aspects of forklift trucks (including operation and maintenance) should be provided.
· Specify if/when safety workwear should be worn.
· Set guidelines for maintenance checks/inspections before the operator starts his/her shift. This inspection could cover a range on items such as brakes, controls, tyres, warning devices, load arms, lift and tilt systems and the steering.
· Set down requirements for the load limits
· Other safety procedures must be clearly communicated, eg passengers should never be carried on the load, the forklift should never be parked on an incline, a forklift should not be used as a towing or a pushing device without the appropriate attachments etc.
Driving a forklift isn’t like driving a toy truck in a sandpit – they are powerful pieces of equipment and horrible accidents do happen. For example, a recent accident involving a forklift in Perth, Australia saw a worker at a granite cutting operation get fatally crushed when the forklift driver accidentally toppled a load of granite onto him.
Stay safe – make forklift truck safety a priority in your organisation.
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