Safe Operation Of Forklifts And Other Powered Industrial Trucks

Procedure Safe Operation of Forklifts and Other Powered Industrial Trucks The following topics will be covered: 1. Forklift-related fatalities and injuries 2. Types of forklifts 3. How a forklift operates 4. Hazards of forklift operation 5. How to use forklifts safely

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The risk of ignoring forklift safety Forklifts are extremely useful in a variety of workplaces, but there is great risk of property damage, injury or death if you: 1. are not trained on forklift safety 2. are not familiar with the specific forklift vehicle 3. operate the forklift in an unsafe manner 4. operate a forklift with a defect or missing parts

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Forklift accident statistics 85 to 100 workers in the U.S. are killed every year in forklift accidents. 1. Approximately 35,000 serious injuries and 62,000 non-serious injuries involving forklifts occur in the United States every year. OSHA estimates 11% of all forklifts are involved in accidents every year.

Fatal Accident Type Crushed by vehicle tipping over Crushed between vehicle and a surface Crushed between two vehicles Struck or run over by a forklift Struck by falling material Fall from platform on the forks

Per Cent 42% 25% 11% 10% 8% 4%

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What is a powered industrial truck (P.I.T.)? Definition: A powered vehicle used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials. 1. Another way of describing powered industrial trucks is that they include standard forklifts and special use forklifts and industrial vehicles. 2. They are all regulated by the DOSH P.I.T. regulations – WAC 296 – 863

3. The Industrial Truck Association list seven classes of PITs. a. Class 1 Electric Truck. Has the following: i. Electric motor ii. A counter-weight in the rear iii. Solid or pneumatic (air filled) tires iv. Operator sits and drives

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b. Class 2 Electric Truck. Characteristics: i. Electric motor ii. Narrow construction to fit in aisles iii. Solid tires

c. Class 3 Hand Truck. Electric Motor Hand or Hand/Rider Trucks. Characteristics: i. Motorized ii. Walk behind or ride iii. Low or high lift iv. Counter-weight or straddle

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d. Class 4 Truck. Characteristics: i. Propane internal combustion engine ii. Solid tires iii. One of the most common types

e. Class 5 Truck. Characteristics: i. Gasoline, diesel or propane engines ii. Pneumatic tires iii. Used outdoors in many cases.

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f.

Class 6 Industrial Tractor Truck. Characteristics: i. Electric or internal combustion engine ii. Solid or pneumatic tires iii. Specialty vehicles iv. Pull or carry loads (no forks)

g. Class 7 Rough Terrain Truck. Characteristics: i. Used outdoors in uneven or muddy locations ii. Pneumatic tires iii. Gasoline or diesel-powered

h. Ship Container PITs

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i.

j.

These are not powered industrial trucks

How is a forklift different from a car or truck? i. Usually steers from the rear, rather than the front, making it swing wide ii. Carries heavy loads, often in tight places and rough terrain iii. Can have reduced visibility iv. Can have a high center of gravity making it susceptible to turnover v. Controls are different and more complicated vi. Heavier than most cars and trucks

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k. Forklift Nameplate The nameplate will list the type of forklift and the capacity

This forklift is a propane (LP) powered forklift, weighing 8680 lbs. with a lifting capacity of up to 4500 lbs.

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l.

Forklift Operating Manual i. Since there are numerous makes, models and types of forklifts, it is important to check for warnings in the specific forklift operator’s manual. ii. The manual should be kept on the forklift at all times.

m. Forklift Stability Triangle i. Almost all counterbalanced powered industrial trucks supported at three points. This is true even if the vehicle has four wheels. The truck's steer axle is attached to the truck by a pivot pin in the axle's center. When this point is connected to the front wheels with imaginary lines, this three-point support forms a triangle called the stability triangle. So long as the center of gravity remains within this stability triangle, the truck is stable and will not tip over.

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n. How loads affect forklifts i. A forklift balances a load with a counterweight at the back. The front wheels act as a fulcrum or balance point. The center of gravity moves upward when the forks are raised.

o. Don’t travel with a raised load

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p. Forklift Load Capacity i. While carrying a load near the maximum allowable capacity, be aware of the following: 1. Danger of power 2. Danger of losing load 3. Danger of being struck by falling load

q. Moving the load i. Use extra caution when handling loads that approach the truck's maximum rated capacity: 1. Tilt the mast & forks back and position the heaviest part of the load against the carriage. 2. Travel with the mast tilted back to keep the load stable. Never travel with the load tilted forward. Tilting the load forward increases the load distance and makes the load less stable r.

s. 4. t.

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