Driving Home the Importance of Forklift Safety: What You Need to Know

Forklift Safety — From Productivity and Efficiency to Cost Savings and Worker Protections

Just because National Forklift Safety Day is over doesn’t make forklift safety itself any less important. In fact, warehouse staff and lift vehicle operators should keep forklift safety top of mind every minute of their shift. Data from OSHA indicates that forklifts cause nearly 97,000 pedestrian accidents per year, nearly 35,000 of which are considered serious, and an average of 85 sadly result in a fatality. The fact is that even the most minor forklift accidents can put the safety of staff in jeopardy as well as compromise your inventory and racking equipment…and they are almost ALWAYS preventable. Here are some simple things you can do to promote forklift and warehouse safety to protect your operation and keep your team safe.

Develop A Safety Plan

You must have a proper and clearly documented forklift safety plan in place. Your plan must comply with federal guidelines and regulations (OSHA, National Standards Institute, etc.). Include direction for both drivers and pedestrians, and tailor it to your warehouse size, format, workflow, and daily processing goals. Lastly, periodically review and audit your plan for compliance and effectiveness. If you need support developing or updating your forklift safety plan, the Warehouse Optimizers, Inc. (WOI) material handling experts can help. We will review your current safety plan and offer guidance on modifications.

Add Safety Gates Where Needed

Safety gates clearly define areas for pedestrians and forklifts and keep your pedestrian staff out of harm’s way. There are multiple types to choose from, whether you need motion-activated models or simple swinging-arm types to separate man from machine. WOI offers a complete safety gate line to help keep your staff and vehicles right where they should be and out of where they shouldn’t. Other products can also help improve forklift and warehouse safety, such as guard rails, barriers, and cages.

Put Your Plan into Practice through Training 

When you have your plan firmly in place, make sure to provide ample training for both operators and pedestrian staff. Remember, it’s not just the responsibility of drivers to understand the rules. Conduct regular training and refresher courses and make sure every member of your staff who works close to forklifts understands the proper safety protocol. Whenever you modify your plan, make sure your team knows about it immediately. Be sure to mark high-traffic areas clearly.

Pedestrians Should Wear Proper Safety Gear

Pedestrian staff working near forklifts should wear bright-colored safety gear so forklift operators can see them. These can include reflectors, safety helmets, bright-colored vests, or other articles that help operators see people from a distance. In addition, develop a dress code to ensure pedestrian staff understands exactly what they should and shouldn’t wear when they’re on the job.

Perform Routine Forklift Maintenance

Operators should check forklifts before every shift for wear and tear and maintain a schedule for routine maintenance to stay ahead of costly and potentially dangerous repair issues. Develop a maintenance checklist to ensure that all forklift areas are checked, including tires, forks, engine controls, battery, fluid levels, and more. Your checklist should include the maintenance date and forklift model number to ensure proper record keeping. OSHA provides a helpful template for forklift maintenance checklists.

Fortify Pallet Racks to Minimize Forklift Impact and Risk

With a busy warehouse operation, accidents can happen. Minimize impact damage to your pallet racking with customized safety features and reinforcements.  If you would like an expert option on the safety of your racking system and or an inspection of damaged areas, the WOI team is ready to help. Our systems experts will conduct a full audit of your racking and present cost-effective recommendations for you.

Let WOI Help You Maximize Forklift and Warehouse Safety in Your Facility

The professionals at Warehouse Optimizers, Inc. are ready to help you keep your employees, vehicles, inventory, and equipment safe. We have spent decades working with all types of industrial operations and warehousing customers t on implementing effective forklift safety practices. We offer turnkey service for all equipment and resources you need to realize your safety goals. With our 5-Step Total Satisfaction Experience™, WOI guarantees that we will 1. Listen to your needs, 2. Execute your project with special attention to your unique application, 3. Stick to project timelines, 4. Ensure a safe environment, and 5. Finally, pay close attention to the appearance of the finished product. The WOI team will walk you through each stage of the process and provide expert customer service to deliver outstanding results and peace of mind. 

Contact a team member Operations today, and let’s discuss your needs and set up an on-site visit or  Zoom. Call (865) 540-4004 for a prompt response. We proudly serve customers throughout the Southeast, including KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, ALABAMA, AND FLORIDA.