Forklift Truck Safety Training is Critical

Forklift Trucks are commonplace around construction sites, warehouses and factories. But these powered industrial trucks can be deadly if used improperly, and they require respect and diligence for safe operation.

 

About 35,000 serious injuries and 62,000 non-serious injuries involving forklifts occur every year in the United States, according to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Forklift operators at heightened risk of injury or death include those who:

 

  • Have not been trained in the principles of physics that allow forklifts to lift heavy loads
  • Are unfamiliar with how a particular forklift works
  • Operate a forklift carelessly
  • Use a forklift despite the machine having missing parts or unapproved alterations

 

Forklifts may be powered by batteries, gasoline, diesel or propane, and come in multiple sizes. Some forklifts have drawbars so they can pull weighty loads, and others have booms and attachments that allow them to lift heavy objects.

 

Regardless of the type of forklift, one thing holds true: All forklift operators must be trained. “An untrained forklift operator can be as dangerous as an unlicensed driver of a motor vehicle,” Washington L&I states, adding that “state regulations require the employer to ensure that a forklift operator is competent to operate the forklift he or she is assigned to use.”

 

Follow The Rules

Drivers must know and adhere to all safety rules when operating a forklift. One critical rule operators should never forget? Always wear your seat belt. Failure to do so can result in an operator being thrown outside a forklift’s protective cage in the event the truck overturns.

 

To help prevent a forklift from tipping over, falling to its side or dropping its load, Washington L&I recommends a number of tips:

 

  • Ensure a load is completely stable and safely secured on the forks before operating the forklift.
  • Keep loads low to the ground when traveling.
  • Keep a load uphill when moving up or down an incline.
  • Drive slowly when conditions are wet or slippery.
  • Slow down when making turns and honk the horn if traffic is encountered.
  • Never allow unauthorized workers to ride on a forklift, and refrain from engaging in horseplay when operating one.

 

Learn more information on how to safely operate a forklift, including how a forklift works, a pre-use inspection checklist, and rules for loading and unloading to have a safe working environment.

 

Article Source: http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/15812-forklift-safety-training-is-critical

3 Major Types of Material Handling Equipment

The process of moving the heavy goods around the warehouse is only possible with the right material handling equipment. This can include items like storage units, forklift trucks and tools that take an active part in the process of moving supplies in and out of the warehouse. Here are some of the major types of material handling equipment:

 

Storage equipment

 

Storage equipment relates to the racks, shelves, pallets or mezzanines that are used when goods are in temporary storage and waiting to be transported to an ongoing destination. A great benefit of using the purpose made pallets or racks is the ease in which they can be stacked to minimize the usable footprint. Many of the large warehouses rely on the proprietary packaging system to increase the ability to store a high volume of goods while conserving space. By creating the bespoke storage equipment it is possible to size them to match the exact dimension of goods that are normally handled.

 

Engineered systems

 

The engineered systems include a variety of automated tools that improve the ability to move heavier loads around the warehouse floor. One of the most popular engineered systems is the fully automatic storage and retrieval system. This type of system involves an automated structure that consists of shelves, aisles and racks that is controlled via a shuttle system. The actual shuttle system is a type of cherry picker and is operated via a fully automatic system or by a worker. This is a very fast and efficient method to locate and retrieve items in a large warehouse. Other similar equipment includes the automatic guided vehicles, robotic delivery systems and conveyor systems.

 

Industrial Trucks

 

The industrial trucks are essential tools used to move the heavy products and materials in and around the warehouse floor. This type of equipment can vary quite significantly and include several types of forklift trucks, pallet-jacks and hand-operated trucks. The trucks differ in size and function to make it possible to easily move the different types of loads. A common method for lifting items is a flat surface or forks like on a forklift truck. The operation of the forklift truck can also vary. For instance, there are trucks that have a person to manually operate the control, while other systems are more automated. Additionally, the trucks include the stack or non-stack design, with the non-stack unit solely used to transport goods and unable to help with loading.

 

Global Power Co., Ltd. is the professional and experienced manufacturer of specializing in forklift truck series. The models of CT POWER forklift truck are compact and have obtained the certification of CE and ISO 9000, which have so far won good reputation among customers from Europe, Middle East, U.S A., Canada, Southeast Asia, etc. Learn more information about forklift trucks, welcome to visit our website or contact with Global Power directly!

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9461458