Here’s a statistic that might surprise you: a significant number of injuries to truck drivers, forklift operators, and heavy machinery operators happen before they even start the engine. It’s not the driving that gets them. It’s getting in and out.…
Ask any warehouse worker what causes back injuries and they’ll probably talk about heavy boxes. Maybe awkward loads. Perhaps rushing to meet a deadline. But here’s something that often gets overlooked: the height you’re lifting from and to has just…
The oil and gas industry is known for its high-risk environments, where safety is paramount. From drilling rigs to refineries and distribution centres, the need to handle heavy materials and equipment efficiently is critical. Forklifts play a vital role in…
Risks increase significantly when forklifts drive on ramps and slopes. Health and safety managers, warehouse managers, and forklift operators must be especially vigilant when considering these inclined surfaces. Understanding the risks Before diving into the safety protocols, it’s important to…
With great lifting power comes great responsibility—especially when visibility is limited. That’s where the spotter, also known as a points person or banksman, becomes indispensable. Whether you’re operating a small warehouse forklift, a medium-sized machine moving unusual loads, or a…
Cold storage environments pose unique challenges to safety, especially when it comes to operating forklifts. The combination of low temperatures, limited visibility due to condensation, and the risk of ice can lead to hazardous conditions. In this article, we’ll explore…
Pallet racking failure can cause a complete collapse onto a forklift or people working nearby, so let’s have a look at what you can do to prevent it. Forklift operator Make sure your operators have a current forklift licence and…
Loading docks are among the most hazardous areas within any facility. Around a quarter of all facility-related accidents occur at or around the loading dock as there are vehicles moving around, pedestrians and an elevated platform. These accidents include: Loading…
A forklift personnel cage (also called a work platform or man cage) is an attachment that can be lifted by a forklift to provide a stable platform for working at height. A scissor lift is a self-propelled platform. Companies that…
A work platform, safety platform, personnel cage or man cage is a forklift attachment that enables a person to be safely lifted. It can be used in place of a scissor lift, although it requires two people: one to be…
Four different vehicles, but one risk factor that needs to be considered before operating or lifting with them. The bigger the object being carried, the more wind resistance it creates, so the more force will be exerted on the machine.…
There are several options for hats for forklift operators. A hard hat is often required where a work area may have falling objects. However, a forklift operator might want to wear a cap with a longer visor or a sun…
Roller doors are an area of risk for forklift operations; collisions with them are frequent. If a forklift hits a roller door, it can bend the door or pull it off its tracks. This might mean that it’s impossible to…
Shipping containers are usually lifted or moved by one of six vehicles: Empty container handler Loaded container handler (a heavier version of the empty container handler) Reach stacker Crane Straddle carrier Sideloader Forklift The first five usually lift from the…
Are warning lights, alarms and other safety devices legally required to operate a forklift? There are thousands of forklifts still in operation that were purchased over 30 years ago. These are perfectly good forklifts operating in all kinds of capacities.…
With the right care and maintenance battery-powered forklifts can be recharged many times, and the batteries will last several years. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for charging. You’ll need to know this process as part of having either…
Minimum ages for driving a forklift vary by the type of forklift qualification required. This section is for New Zealand, see the end of the article for other countries. Driving a forklift on a road with a gross laden weight under…
As more and more safety compliance responsibility is heaped on companies, some are finding it difficult to achieve dangerous goods compliance when they are using forklifts with LPG cylinders. Cylinders attached to a forklift are not counted as being in…
Forklifts are not designed for towing, but there are three common scenarios where a forklift might be used to move vehicles using an attachment. Because attachments are custom engineered for specific purposes they can be designed to enable forklifts to…
We wrote about options for managing forklift speed in your workplace, and what a forklift speed limit should be for your workplace. One of the methods to restrict forklift speed is to use a speed limiter. What is a forklift…
