Prevent Problems with Pedestrians

“It’s ok, there’s plenty of space, that forklift will see me and stop.”

Have you ever felt this way, or have you ever heard other people say things like this? I know I have! Forklifts and proper safety procedures go hand in hand. However, there is the occasion where an accident may occur that the forklift operator is not necessarily at fault for. These accidents typically involve pedestrians and can cause numerous problems for companies and all parties involved.

 

How Much Do You Know?

1.     ______ percent of forklift accidents involve pedestrians.

a.     75

b.     50

c.     25

d.     20

2.     It is acceptable to give pedestrians and other personnel occasional rides on a forklift.

a.     True

b.     False

3.     One main cause of forklift/pedestrian accidents is because…

a.     The pedestrian does not hear the truck.

b.     The pedestrian does not see the truck.

c.     The pedestrian gets too close to the truck.

d.     All of the above

4.     Similar to a car forklifts have blind spots.

a.     True

b.     False

Get This…

There are roughly 100,000 forklift accidents per year! Yes, nearly 100,000! Many of these accidents occur through operator error, but sometimes accidents are caused by the surrounding environment. With that said, it does not make these types of accidents acceptable. Often times these types of accidents involve pedestrians. Due to the weight of a forklift accidents involving pedestrians can cause serious injury, and can even be fatal! It’s a good idea to take precautionary measures to ensure that forklift/pedestrian accidents are limited, or in ideal situations avoided completely. Here are some ideas on keeping pedestrians out of harm:

1.     First and foremost, have drivers yield to pedestrians.

2.     Make use of the horn! This can warn pedestrians of a forklift in use.

3.     Use a spotter in circumstances where the operator's vision is impaired.

4.     Absolutely never allow pedestrians to stand or walk under a forklift.

5.     Clearly mark and block off areas where the forklift will be in use. Blocking the next isle over is imperative in case anything is pushed off of shelving.  

 

Can You Answer This Question???

Does OSHA require forklift/pedestrian training specifically?

a.     Yes

b.     No

OSHA does not require forklift/pedestrian safety to be specifically taught to operators. However, OSHA does require that employers take precautions to keep pedestrians safe around forklifts and other heavy machinery. With this said forklift accidents involving pedestrians make up 20% of all accidents. In conclusion, it is never a bad idea to require your forklift operators to go through a safety course highlighting pedestrian related issues. 

Get The Facts!

People die from forklift accidents every day! Passerby’s are not the only people who fall victim to forklift accidents. In fact, many people who are injured by forklifts know the risks and even know how to operate a forklift! This seems shocking right?! Well much of this is incredibly preventable and is caused by forklift operators giving their friends rides! OSHA prohibits any passengers from riding on forklifts. This means no passengers inside the forklift, or riding on its forks. Also remember, if passengers are being lifted make sure that you are using specialized equipment! What not to do is pictured below.

…So Call

If you’re interested in more information on driver training for your future forklift operators give us a call! We will come to your facility to perform the class, and provide picture IDs for all your newly certified operators! For any additional questions or concerns contact us at (513) 842-2012, or omega.rockett@yahoo.com!