Particular OSHA requirements need to be met so as to operate any kind of forklift. A lot of the businesses using forklifts will offer basic training to the other office and sales staff along with visitors and other non operators who may venture into the distribution areas. Though OSHA doesn't specifically address forklift pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers should take measures so as to protect employees from certain dangers, such as pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
Pedestrian safety is a huge issue that needs to be dealt with and not ignored. According to the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; around 20% of all forklift mishaps comprise a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic translates to roughly 19,000 individuals each year.
Nevertheless frequently or briefly people are around industrial trucks during their work day, there are some basic steps that must be taken so as to keep everybody safe. Among the main considerations is that lift truck pedestrian accidents normally occur in situations where the pedestrian is ignorant of safety measures. Problems also happen more frequently when the pedestrian has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts and ends up complacent.
There are some common situations to look out for so as to avoid placing yourself at possible risk from being struck by a forklift. Pedestrians not seeing the lift truck is a common issue that needs to be dealt with. Many operations have various degrees of intersections or blind corners that pedestrians should be aware of. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the forklift. Be careful of the various kinds of power sources. Like for instance, electric trucks can be much quieter than internal combustion engines that are really loud.
Coming in too close proximity of the machinery is another common issue for pedestrians. In order for a pedestrian to be injured by a forklift, common sense tells us that the pedestrian has to be near to be struck. For a lift truck that is running, a four foot safety zone is recommended in order to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This really helps to deal with risks such as the unit driving accidentally over the foot of a pedestrian.
To make certain that the workplace safety stays top notch and remains paramount, the implementation and following of strict safety protocol is key.