Specific OSHA requirements need to be met so as to use any kind of forklift. A lot of the businesses utilizing forklifts will provide basic training to the other sales and office employees in combination with visitors and other non operators who may venture into the distribution areas. Though OSHA doesn't particularly deal with lift truck pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers need to take measures in order to protect employees from some risks, like for instance pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
Pedestrian safety is a huge issue which has to be dealt with and not overlooked. Based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH; approximately 20% of all forklift accidents include a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means roughly 19,000 people on a yearly basis.
Nonetheless frequently or briefly people are around industrial trucks in their work day, there are some basic steps that should be taken in order to keep everyone safe. Among the major considerations is that lift truck pedestrian mishaps normally happen in situations where the pedestrian is ignorant of safety precautions. Issues also occur more frequently when the pedestrian ends up complacent because he or she has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts.
In order to avoid putting yourself at potential risk of being struck by a lift truck, there are several common situations to look out for. Among the most common problems is when pedestrians did not see the forklift. Numerous operations have varying degrees of blind corners or intersections that pedestrians have to know. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the lift truck. Be really careful of the various types of power sources. Like for example, electric trucks may be much quieter than IC engines that are super loud.
The other main problems are when pedestrians come in too near the machinery. Common sense tells us that in order for a pedestrian to be injured by a forklift, the pedestrian has to be in close enough proximity to be struck. For a forklift which is working, 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 model accidentally driving over a pedestrian's foot.
Implementing and following strict safety protocol helps to make certain that the workplace safety stays top notch and remains paramount.