Sadly, injuries and industrial accidents at construction sites are really common and happen more frequently than anyone would prefer. Based on statistics, a huge majority of these mishaps happen as a result of wholly absent or inadequate protocols and safety training. A machinery like a lift truck could be an extremely dangerous piece of machinery if improperly utilized.
Proper maintenance is the initial step towards safety like with nearly all types of machinery. You should make sure that the equipment is functioning at an optimum level before trying to utilize it and you should never try to use anything that doesn't seem to be functioning properly. Safety is always first!
There are some vital safety measures which are relevant to construction and warehouse equipment in general. To begin with, the shovels, tines or other lifting components must never ever be used to transport individuals. This equipment is not an elevator or a moving work station. It is a heavy-duty piece of industrial machine which should be respected at all times.
Before lifting any load, it is important to make sure that the cargo is properly settled and balanced on your forks. Any poorly or unwieldy centered object has a possibility of falling off the blades and can injure passers-by or co-workers. Also, whatever is being transported can easily end up broken.
It is never acceptable to stand between a wall, the load or other surface and the forklift. The forklift operator may not be able to see exactly where you are from their position and could end up crushing your arm accidentally in between objects if you are not paying attention. It is never a good idea to be hanging around machines that is being utilized.
Get to know the machine's particular load bearing characteristics and follow the limits. Severe damage and injury could happen if you attempt to lift anything that is too heavy or very big. Moreover, take note of the height and the speed of your load while you are transporting it to make certain you are within the correct safety parameters.
Using a lift truck in a safe manner could really lessen your chance of mishaps in the workplace. Injuries and product damage could be prevented easily as long as everyone takes the time to ensure they are following all the safety guidelines set out by the manufacturer for that particular unit.