Fork Lift Safety

Fork lifts provide a safe and effective way to move materials from one location to another. Unfortunately, when proper safety procedures are not followed, fork lift accidents can result in serious injury or death.

Function

• Fork lifts carry heavy loads from one location to another or lift them several feet into the air for storage in racking. Some fork lifts are equipped with a "reach" feature that also allows the forks to extend away from the body of the machine.

Types

• There are a wide variety of fork lifts for use in different situations: ones that have electric- and propane gas-operated engines; standing, low-lift trucks; standing, high-lift trucks; and sit-down trucks with three or four wheels.

Considerations

• Any time that heavy weights are moved or suspended overhead, there is a great risk for serious injury in the event of an accident. Tens of thousands of injuries related to forklifts occur in US workplaces each year, says the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Safety Precautions

• Fork lifts used in areas of heavy activity should be equipped with lights and a horn to be able to notify people of their approach.

Prevention/Solution

• A number of credible organizations, including OSHA, offer comprehensive courses on fork lift safety. The best way to ensure a safe work environment is for employees to be properly educated on fork lift safety procedures.