Forklift Accidents - Three Steps to Not End Up a Statistic

Forklift accidents are a big deal. Each year over 10,000 accidents having to do with forklifts are reported with around a hundred of those reports being fatalities. On top of these sad facts, forklift accidents are also costly. Somewhere around $100 million dollars are lost each year to these accidents. There are some

necessary steps to take to avoid any and all accidents involving forklifts.

Train Workers Well

Good, honest training will go a long way in preventing accidents involving forklifts. Each employee who will be operating a forklift should go through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) rigorous training and pass certification. The training course that OSHA provides includes classroom, as well as practical, training and should give forklift operators the necessary know-how to operate a forklift. It is imperative that training be done at each forklift operator’s place of employment to see whether or not that operator will be able to handle the intricacies of their work environment. A certification is given only when a forklift operator meets the necessary guidelines.

For those that will not be operating any forklifts, train them how to stay out of the way. Unfortunately, a lot of these accidents are brought about by workers misunderstanding each other or disregarding certain guidelines. Be open and honest with all workers, share the statistics, and warn them accordingly.

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Survey the Workspace

Scrutinize every aspect of the building that forklifts operate in. Find any possible ‘hot spots’ for accidents and send out a work order to get those spots fixed immediately. Even with the proper training, a forklift operator cannot be blamed for a hazardous work environment. Be realistic and imagine every possible incident that may occur in every ‘hot spot’ you find.

Paint, with bright colors, lines where forklifts are known to travel most and put out literature for all workers to read on safety guidelines. Simple steps like these will help a workplace stay safe and not end up a statistic.

Be Strict

This is the final, and toughest, step. Be strict with employees. Do not let any act of silliness or ignorance slide. Remember 100, of the 10,000, forklift accidents reported each year are fatalities. It is far better to fire or demote someone than to let them continue with behavior that might lead to death when working around forklifts.

Follow these steps and have peace-of-mind that all employees are trained well and working properly around forklifts.

To learn more click here to visit ForkliftU.com