Be Aware When Driving a Forklift Truck
Forklifts are large industrial machines making safety a main matter when driving these trucks. The forklift operators are required by law to be trained and qualified before driving these machines. Anybody who misuses a forklift truck could be charged with an offence. Misuse of this potentially dangerous machine could result in fatality or serious injury. Safe operation of a forklift truck includes paying attention both to what is happening around the vehicle and to what is happening inside the vehicle. Not unlike driving a car, operating a lift truck requires keeping your attention on the road and being alert of pedestrians and other vehicles.
Essential forklift driving tips
Worksite mishaps are all too frequent. On the other hand, lots of accidents are preventable by minimalizing the risks while working with heavy and dangerous machines.
Rough surfaces and drops are commonly encountered while driving a lift truck because the majority of operating surfaces are quite rough and uneven. The biggest dangers are dock platforms, dock bridges, pot holes, bumps, inclines and ramps. Forklifts are made to handle surfaces that are rough, but it is the operators responsibility to keep control of the truck and to be on the lookout for these hazards.
Visibility is one of the important factors in forklift accidents. The operator is responsible for ensuring clear visibility when utilizing a forklift by checking that mirrors are positioned properly and that all windows are clean and unobstructed. If a load is placed in such a way that it obscures visibility for the driver, then the driver needs to put the lift truck in reverse and carefully back down the ramp.
Operators are required by law to ensure that every day inspections are made to the forklift and its components. On a weekly basis, more methodical exams must also be conducted. The tires, forks, engine, brakes and the rest should always be checked to ensure proper working condition. Correct inspections could help to prevent injury and mishaps.