Specific OSHA requirements have to be met so as to utilize any type of forklift. A lot of the companies using lift trucks will offer basic training to the other sales and office employees along with visitors and other non operators who might venture into the distribution areas. Even if OSHA doesn't particularly deal with forklift pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers must take measures in order to protect employees from some risks, such as pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
Pedestrian safety is a big problem that has to be dealt with and not overlooked. Based on the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; roughly 20 percent of all forklift mishaps comprise a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means approximately 19,000 individuals on a yearly basis.
So as to keep everybody safe, there are several basic steps which should be taken into consideration. This is regardless to how briefly or frequently people are around industrial trucks in their work day. One of the major factors is that lift truck pedestrian mishaps usually happen in cases where the pedestrian is ignorant of safety measures. Issues also happen more often when the pedestrian ends up complacent since she or he has become used to frequent interaction with lift trucks.
There are several common situations to look out for so as to avoid placing yourself at potential risk from being struck by a lift truck. Pedestrians not seeing the forklift is a common problem that has to be dealt with. Many operations have different degrees of intersections or blind corners which pedestrians must know. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the forklift. Be careful of the different types of power sources. For instance, electric trucks may be much quieter as opposed to IC engines that are really loud.
Coming in too near the machinery is another common concern for pedestrians. In order for a pedestrian to be injured by a lift truck, common sense tells us that the pedestrian has to be near to be struck. For a forklift which is running, a four foot safety zone is suggested in order to make a safe perimeter for everybody. This really helps to address risks like for instance the unit accidentally driving over a pedestrian's foot.
To make certain that the workplace safety remains paramount and stays top notch, the implementation and following of strict safety protocol is important.