Warehouses, loading docks, manufacturing facilities, and retail establishments employ forklift trucks to lift and transfer large items and supplies. They are also known as PITS, or powered industrial trucks, and are operated by a skilled operator or someone just strolling by.
The operator of a forklift, like any other motorized vehicle, is at risk of injury in the event of forklift accidents. Inexperienced drivers, hazardous working conditions, or badly maintained equipment may make these vehicles exceedingly risky.
Accidents are unavoidable, and we cannot know when or how they’ll happen next. It’s not difficult to estimate how many individuals are hurt each year while operating forklifts since forklifts play such an important role in manufacturing. An OSHA study has shown that these industrial vehicles are responsible for roughly 100 worker fatalities and 20,000 work-related injuries per year.
According to a National Safety Council report, forklift accidents are most common in service-providing industries, wholesale trade, transportation and utilities, and warehousing. Even the costliest forklifts can’t save millions of employees from a forklift accident that results in long-term disability and health care expenditures. Some of these factors are avoidable while others aren’t. So, what are the most common causes of forklift-related injuries?
A significant number of workplace injuries occur as a result of the following, according to OSHA:
Forklifts Rolls or Overturns
Forklift deaths are most often caused by overturns. Forklift overturns often caused by improper turning, driving with a raised load, and excessive speed.
Be cautious while loading, maintain under the truck’s weight limit, and avoid driving with a lifted load to prevent disastrous overturns. Drivers are encouraged by OSHA standards to carry weights as close to the ground as possible, at a distance of about 4 inches. When the forklift truck is parked, it is excellent practice to lower the prongs. Loads should be maneuvered onto racks at a very slow pace. Finally, while driving a forklift truck, the general atmosphere and the floor surface state must be considered.
Forklifts Constantly Crashing into the Racking Systems
Damage to a racking system may be small at first, but cumulative damage may lead to catastrophic effects such as the collapse of the racking system over several months or years.
Forklift operators’ visibility and efficiency may be increased by installing suitable rear-view mirrors, mast-mounted cameras, and proximity sensors to minimize backing problems. Another consideration is the safety of the racking systems from being damaged by forklifts. Managers of warehouses should also make sure that the aisles are clear of debris and well lit.
Workers Are Hit, Crushed, or Struck by a Forklift
Forty-two percent of all forklift fatalities each year are caused by somebody being crushed by a forklift. Due to a general fear of being run over by a forklift from the front, most individuals choose a position next to the forklift. According to the data, a forklift tipped over in the opposite direction is the most dangerous.
Forklifts aren’t allowed on authorized walkways. Thus, they are the best places for pedestrians to stroll. Signs must be posted so that they may be easily recognized. The forklift operator should also ensure that they are continuously looking ahead and operating reasonably.
Drivers / Workers Fall from the Forklift
Many warehouse workers find themselves attempting to attain greater and higher levels of inventory as warehouses look for new methods to stack their stock. Forklifts are a popular choice. However, they cannot sustain weight distribution that isn’t uniform. Consequently, the forklift may wobble or even topple over, leading to severe injury or death.
What can you do to make sure that doesn’t happen? Personal protection equipment (PPE) such as hard helmets and appropriate footwear should be used by forklift operators to reduce the danger of sliding. To reach higher places, a manlift, rather than a forklift, would be a better option since it is specifically built to transport people, not pallet goods, at a faster and safer rate.
Employers and forklift operators have a duty to enforce workplace safety standards, and employees and forklift operators have a responsibility to abide by those requirements. If you violate these safety precautions, you will be held responsible for your actions. Always be on the lookout for hazards and be aware of your immediate surroundings.
What Are the Most Common Forklift Injuries?
According to OSHA, forklifts come in various shapes and sizes, each with a unique set of risks. Hazards usually connected with motorized industrial vehicles depend on different circumstances, including the kind of workplace and the conditions present.
According to a report from the National Safety Council, workers who were hurt in 7,940 non-fatal workplace incidents using forklifts were forced to miss an average of 12 days of work. Injuries suffered by the victims include fractures, bruises, contusions, sprains, tears, cuts, punctures, and lacerations.
Protecting your legal rights is critical if you have been hurt in a work-related forklift accident. There may be a case to support the need for compensation to cover lost income, medical bills and associated healthcare costs, disability payments, and pain, suffering, and mental distress, as well as additional requirements particular to the situation of the wounded or dead worker’s family.
Conclusion
If you are a new employee, you should follow the safety rules and regulations on how to operate the forklift safely if you are a new employee to prevent these causes of unsafe use. Employees should be informed of the dangers of improperly handling loads, which may avoid accidents. Pay attention to what your organization may provide in this area. And last, if you want to prevent accidents when using forklifts, you must use extreme caution.
Using the forklift safely is synonymous with using a piece of safe and reliable forklift equipment. Forklifts from Watts Equipment Co., Inc. are not only effective and efficient, but they also meet your specific needs. Learn more by contacting us right now. Talk with the most reliable dealer in town if you are looking for good forklift equipment.
