FORKLIFT SAFETY

Anna Fretheim ENV H 462, Winter 2012

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

I. Forklift Safety Statistics

II. Forklift Definition and Types

III. How Forklifts Work

IV. Forklift Safety Regulations (WAC)

FORKLIFT SAFETY MATTERS

• Forklifts are widely used

• Every year in U.S.: 35,000 serious injuries, 62,000 non-serious injuries, 85 fatalities

• OSHA estimate: 11% of all forklifts are involved in accidents every year

• 90% of forklifts will be involved in some type of accident during their career

Fatal Accident Type %

Crushed by vehicle tipping over 42%

Crushed between vehicle and a surface 25%

Crushed between two vehicles 11%

Struck or run over by a forklift 10%

Struck by falling material 8%

Fall from platform on the forks 4%

FORKLIFT SAFETY MATTERS

2007-2009 5 most common citations by L & I safety inspectors involving forklifts:

1. Lack of training

2. No seatbelt or not using seatbelt

3. No inspection of the forklift for defects

4. Modification of forklift without manufacturer’s approval

5. No nameplate or unreadable nameplate

WHAT IS A FORKLIFT?

WHAT IS A FORKLIFT?

• Forklifts fall under the definition of Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs)

• PIT: Mobile, power-driven vehicle used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier material

• Powered industrial trucks include:

• Platform lift trucks

• Motorized hand trucks

WHAT ISN’T A PIT?

Farm Vehicles Earth Moving Vehicles

TYPES OF FORKLIFTS

• Diesel powered

• Electrically powered

• Gasoline powered

• Liquid Petroleum powered (most common)

TYPES OF FORKLIFTS

• Can have additional safeguards to the exhaust, fuel, and electrical systems

• Prevent emission of hazardous sparks

• Limit surface temperatures

• Allow them to be used in hazardous conditions (i.e. flammable dusts/vapors)

• Consider location’s hazard level to decide which to use

HOW DO FORKLIFTS WORK?

• Forks in front of trucks lift loads

• Triangle of stability

• Formed by front wheels and rear axel

• As long as the center of gravity remains within the stability triangle, the truck will not tip over

HOW DO FORKLIFTS WORK?

• Balances its load with counterweight

• Front wheels act as fulcrum

• When forklift lifts load, center of gravity shifts forward and moves upward

• If it shifts outside of the triangle, the forklift will fall

FORKLIFT SAFETY

Codes: WAC 296-863

WHAT CAN MAKE A FORKLIFT DANGEROUS?

• Steers from the rear, making it swing wide

• Carries heavy loads

• Can have reduced visibility

• Masts and loads

• Can have a high center of gravity (turning over)

• Very heavy

• Complicated controls

863-200: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND EQUIPMENT

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

• If you own a forklift, it must meet ANSI design and construction requirements

• If you want to modify the forklift, get written approval from manufacturer

• Forklift must be labeled clearly to indicate type, weight, load capacity, modifications, and if it’s approved for hazardous conditions

863-200: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND EQUIPMENT

OVERHEAD GUARD

• Must have overhead guards

• It isn’t intended to withstand the impact of the forklift’s maximum capacity load though

863-200: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND EQUIPMENT

863-300: INSPECTION, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING

SAFE WORKING CONDITION

• Must be kept in safe working condition

• Do not use forklifts with following conditions

• Leak in fuel system

• Exhaust system emitting sparks/flames

• Abnormally hot part

• Keep them

• Clean

• Free of excess lint, oil, and grease

863-300: INSPECTION, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, SERVICING

DAILY INSPECTIONS

• Inspect the forklift daily or after each shift if used continuously

• Fluid levels

• Defects

• Tire pressure & quality

• Forks condition

• Nameplates in place and legible

• Safety devices working properly

• Report and correct any deficiencies noticed

• Repairs must be made by authorized persons

863-300: INSPECTION, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, SERVICING

FUELING

• Turn off engine

• Avoid spilling fuel

• No open flames!

863-300: INSPECTION, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, SERVICING

BATTERY CHARGING

• Specific areas for battery charging installations (NO SMOKING)

• There must be facilities for : • Water for flushing and neutralizing spilled

electrolyte from area and from eyes (eyewash) • Fire protection • Adequate ventilation (for hydrogen gas)

• Dangers: burns from battery acid, fire from hydrogen gas

• If handling battery acid, wear PPE

863-300: INSPECTION, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, SERVICING

863-400: OPERATIONS

18+ TO OPERATE

SAFE DRIVING

• Use seatbelts

• Never let people pass under raised forks

• No unauthorized persons can ride

• No stunt driving or horseplay

• Don’t drive the truck up to anyone in front of a fixed object!

• Make sure there’s enough room to operate forklift

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

SAFE DRIVING

• Obey all traffic regulations

• Keep a distance of 3 truck lengths from truck ahead

• Keep a safe distance from the edge of ramps, platforms, and docks

• Drive slowly on wet floors

• Slow turning speed

• Watch for pedestrians!

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

HANDLE LOADS SAFELY

• Make sure loads are within rated capacity

• Put forks under load as far as possible

• Tilt forks forwards to pick up or put down load

• When carrying load, tilt forks backwards

• If the load obstructs your view, travel backwards and with a spotter

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

HANDLE LOADS SAFELY

• Do not travel with a raised load

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

SLOPES

• When on a slope (>10%), the load always faces upwards (so you drive backwards going down)

• If no load, forks face downwards

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

UNATTENDED

• Unattended = 25 or more feet away (or when not in view)

• Unattended trucks:

• Fork lowered

• Controls neutralized

• Power off

• Brakes set

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

ELEVATORS

• If using an elevator:

• Approach it slowly

• Enter it squarely

• Turn off power

• Neutralize controls

• Set the brakes

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

DOCKBOARDS

• Do not overload them (check their capacity)

• Secure them first

• Drive over them very slowly

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

http://medlinramps.com/equipment-products/dockboards/

LOADING TRUCK TRAILERS AND RAILROAD CARS

• Make sure flooring can handle load, check for weaknesses

• Set breaks, use wheel stops

• Use horn or warning lights when entering or exiting

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

OSHA

CARBON MONOXIDE

• Propane, gasoline, and diesel powered forklifts produce carbon monoxide

• Without enough fresh air ventilation, CO poisoning can occur

• Vey common

• Severe nausea, headache

• If forklifts are used indoors, they must be tested for CO emission periodically and get tune-ups

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

TIPPING

• How can a forklift tip over?

• Load’s too heavy

• Driving too fast around a corner

• Driving off edge of platform/ramp

• Driving indoor forklift outdoors

• Driving on an incline

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

WHAT TO DO IF FORKLIFT TIPS

• If forklift tips over

• Keep arms and legs inside

• Hold on to steering wheel

• Lean away from direction of fall

• Don’t jump!

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

LIFTING PEOPLE

• Lifting people

• Only lift workers if you have the proper installations to do so

• Must have guardrails & toeboards

• Do not move with workers on platform

863-400: TRUCK OPERATIONS

REMEMBER: BE SAFE

OR PAY THE CONSEQUENCES

THANK YOU!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SScjyNBZ8vw