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ForkLift Safety - Standard Operational Procedures

This document provides guidance on safely operating forklifts and other powered industrial trucks. It begins by outlining the topics to be covered, including forklift-related injuries and fatalities, types of forklifts, hazards of operation, and safe operation practices. Statistics show 85-100 forklift-related deaths occur annually in the US. The document then defines powered industrial trucks and lists their seven classes. It provides details on how forklifts differ from cars/trucks and discusses nameplates, manuals, load capacity, and safely moving loads. Key safety points include operating only after training, checking for defects, and avoiding travel with raised loads.

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601 views13 pages

ForkLift Safety - Standard Operational Procedures

This document provides guidance on safely operating forklifts and other powered industrial trucks. It begins by outlining the topics to be covered, including forklift-related injuries and fatalities, types of forklifts, hazards of operation, and safe operation practices. Statistics show 85-100 forklift-related deaths occur annually in the US. The document then defines powered industrial trucks and lists their seven classes. It provides details on how forklifts differ from cars/trucks and discusses nameplates, manuals, load capacity, and safely moving loads. Key safety points include operating only after training, checking for defects, and avoiding travel with raised loads.

Uploaded by

cibewizard
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Procedure

Safe Operation of Forklifts and Other Powered Industrial Trucks


The following topics will be covered:
1. Forklift-related fatalities and injuries
2. Types of forklifts
3. How a forklift operates
4. Hazards of forklift operation
5. How to use forklifts safely

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The risk of ignoring forklift safety


Forklifts are extremely useful in a variety of workplaces, but there is great risk of property damage,
injury or death if you:
1. are not trained on forklift safety
2. are not familiar with the specific forklift vehicle
3. operate the forklift in an unsafe manner
4. operate a forklift with a defect or missing parts

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Forklift accident statistics


85 to 100 workers in the U.S. are killed every year in forklift accidents.
1. Approximately 35,000 serious injuries and 62,000 non-serious injuries involving forklifts occur in
the United States every year. OSHA estimates 11% of all forklifts are involved in accidents every
year.

Fatal Accident Type


Crushed by vehicle
tipping over
Crushed between
vehicle and a surface
Crushed between two
vehicles
Struck or run over by a
forklift
Struck by falling
material
Fall from platform on
the forks

Per Cent
42%
25%
11%
10%
8%
4%

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What is a powered industrial truck (P.I.T.)?


Definition: A powered vehicle used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials.
1. Another way of describing powered industrial trucks is that they include standard forklifts and
special use forklifts and industrial vehicles.
2. They are all regulated by the DOSH P.I.T. regulations WAC 296 863

3. The Industrial Truck Association list seven classes of PITs.


a. Class 1 Electric Truck. Has the following:
i. Electric motor
ii. A counter-weight in the rear
iii. Solid or pneumatic (air filled) tires
iv. Operator sits and drives

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b. Class 2 Electric Truck. Characteristics:


i. Electric motor
ii. Narrow construction to fit in aisles
iii. Solid tires

c. Class 3 Hand Truck. Electric Motor Hand or Hand/Rider Trucks. Characteristics:


i. Motorized
ii. Walk behind or ride
iii. Low or high lift
iv. Counter-weight or straddle

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d. Class 4 Truck. Characteristics:


i. Propane internal combustion engine
ii. Solid tires
iii. One of the most common types

e. Class 5 Truck. Characteristics:


i. Gasoline, diesel or propane engines
ii. Pneumatic tires
iii. Used outdoors in many cases.

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f.

Class 6 Industrial Tractor Truck. Characteristics:


i. Electric or internal combustion engine
ii. Solid or pneumatic tires
iii. Specialty vehicles
iv. Pull or carry loads (no forks)

g. Class 7 Rough Terrain Truck. Characteristics:


i.
Used outdoors in uneven or muddy locations
ii.
Pneumatic tires
iii.
Gasoline or diesel-powered

h. Ship Container PITs

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i.

j.

These are not powered industrial trucks

How is a forklift different from a car or truck?


i.
Usually steers from the rear, rather than the front, making it swing wide
ii.
Carries heavy loads, often in tight places and rough terrain
iii.
Can have reduced visibility
iv.
Can have a high center of gravity making it susceptible to turnover
v.
Controls are different and more complicated
vi.
Heavier than most cars and trucks

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k. Forklift Nameplate
The nameplate will list the type of forklift and the capacity

This forklift is a propane (LP) powered forklift, weighing 8680 lbs. with a lifting capacity of up to
4500 lbs.

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l.

Forklift Operating Manual


i.
Since there are numerous makes, models and types of forklifts, it is important to check
for warnings in the specific forklift operators manual.
ii.
The manual should be kept on the forklift at all times.

m. Forklift Stability Triangle


i.
Almost all counterbalanced powered industrial trucks supported at three points. This is
true even if the vehicle has four wheels. The truck's steer axle is attached to the truck by
a pivot pin in the axle's center. When this point is connected to the front wheels with
imaginary lines, this three-point support forms a triangle called the stability triangle. So
long as the center of gravity remains within this stability triangle, the truck is stable and
will not tip over.

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n. How loads affect forklifts


i.
A forklift balances a load with a counterweight at the back. The front wheels act as a
fulcrum or balance point. The center of gravity moves upward when the forks are
raised.

o. Dont travel with a raised load

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p. Forklift Load Capacity


i.
While carrying a load near the maximum allowable capacity, be aware of the following:
1. Danger of power
2. Danger of losing load
3. Danger of being struck by falling load

q. Moving the load


i.
Use extra caution when handling loads that approach the truck's maximum rated
capacity:
1. Tilt the mast & forks back and position the heaviest part of the load against the
carriage.
2. Travel with the mast tilted back to keep the load stable.
Never travel with the load tilted forward. Tilting the load forward increases the load distance and makes
the load less stable
r.

s.
4.
t.

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