Be Aware When Driving a Forklift Truck
Forklifts are large industrial machinery making safety a main concern when driving these types of trucks. The forklift operators are required by law to be taught and qualified prior to driving these machines. Anyone who misuses a forklift truck could be charged with an offence. Abuse of this potentially dangerous machine could result in serious injury or death. Safe operation of a forklift truck involves paying attention both to what is happening inside the vehicle and to what is happening around the vehicle. Not different to driving a car, driving a forklift requires being alert of pedestrians and other vehicles and keeping your attention on the road.
Important forklift driving suggestions
Workplace mishaps are all too common. However, many accidents are preventable by lessening the risks while working with equipment which are heavy and dangerous.
The majority of operating surfaces are somewhat uneven and rough are usually encountered while operating a forklift. The biggest dangers are commonly bumps, pot holes, dock platforms, dock bridges, inclines and ramps. Forklifts are made to handle surfaces which are uneven, but it is the operators responsibility to be on the lookout for these dangers to keep control of the truck.
One of the main factors in lift truck mishaps is visibility. Operators are ultimately responsible for making certain that their lift truck is operated with clear visibility. This could be helped by checking to make sure that mirrors are properly positioned and windows are unobstructed and clean. If a load is placed in such a way that it obscures visibility for the forklift operator, then the operator should put the lift truck in reverse and back down the ramp carefully.
Forklift operators are legally required to perform daily inspections of the forklift truck and its parts. A more thorough examination should be conducted on a weekly basis. The tires, forks, engine, brakes and so on must always be checked in order to ensure that they are correctly working. Correct testing could help to avoid injury and mishaps.