Ensuring that you follow all safety standards and regulations in your warehouse is essential in order to maintain compliance and reduce the risk of injury to your employees. In addition to organizing storage spaces and improving workplace efficiency, understanding the standards set for powered trucks and forklifts will promote safety and increase accountability for your business. These govern everything from workplace lighting, to the storage, to the color of paint on the vehicle. Here are just a few to become familiar with:

• The USA Standard Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards and Identification of Certain Equipment should be followed in relation to obstructions and aisles.
• Areas designated for battery charging and installations should only be used for that purpose.
• Ensure that the storage and handling of fuel, such as diesel and gasoline, are up to code.

Be sure that your management team and employees are aware of the various safety standards in place for the storage and operation of powered industrial trucks in order to avoid potential injury and loss for your organization.

Forklift safety is not to be taken lightly. This equipment is involved in around 90,000 accidents every year and sometimes people sustain severely, and occasionally even fatal injuries from these incidents. Even if a forklift accident at the workplace doesn’t result in such serious consequences, it’s likely that a business will find still itself embroiled in workers’ compensation issues, and OSHA will always investigate the accident looking for regulatory violations. The infographic depicts the various recorded causes of accidents.   Regardless of the ultimate resolution, a missing or incorrect data plate will be flagged, will result in OSHA fines, and can be legal fodder.

An incorrect or missing data plate can preclude an operator and the management team from understanding the lifting limitations of the machine. Properly trained forklift operators understand how to read the data plate and look for the forklift’s maximum capacity in a particular situation. Fortunately, there is now no reason to operate with an incorrect data plate because the specialists at Professional Forklift Engineering Services make it easy, quick, and cost effective to stay OSHA compliant. If we can help your business obtain the data plates and certifications you need please contact us for a quote.

Understanding the lateral stability of a forklift is essential in order to ensure that operators complete jobs safely when using the equipment. The best way to think about lateral stability for a forklift is to compare it to your car. When you make this comparison, you can see that a forklift is narrower, higher up, and without suspension to handle bumps. Therefore, it is crucially important for an operator to practice safe driving techniques so the lift does not overturn.

Driving and turning at a reasonable speed, as well as exercising caution on slopes, will help maintain the center of balance for the forklift. That way, each job can be safely completed while eliminating the risk of dropping the load or crashing. Be sure to read all safety information when using a rotational attachment, and perform a thorough equipment check before operating the forklift, so that any potential risks can be assessed by management if needed.

Understanding the capabilities and limitations of your machinery before use allows your employees to safely complete tasks. In addition, your business will see a decreased risk of injury, leading to greater productivity and efficiency. A boom capacity load map helps you achieve these goals, by giving your employees the information they need so they can safely lift materials in the warehouse or out on a job site.

Affixed to the forklift, the boom capacity load map shows the safe amount of weight that can be lifted at certain hook position intervals. The size of the load will affect the hook position, and you want to be sure to never lift over the capacity so that the highest levels of safety can be maintained at all times. Continually educating and retraining employees on the various equipment they use will ensure proper usage, and save time and money lost from injuries and broken machines.

The data plate on a forklift is broken down into different sections, which each stand for a different characteristic and measurement. Some of these include:

Mast and Back Tilt Refers to the type of mast and the maximum degree of back tilt allowable.

Tire Size Ensures proper replacement tires are used to maintain levels of safety.

Load Center Gives a capacity based on how far forward from the mast the balancing point of the load is.

If any modifications are made to a forklift, or if it has an attachment, the forklift capacity plate must be updated to reflect the new capacity. Similarly, if a data plate goes missing or is illegible, you are required to replace it. To do so, contact Professional Forklift Engineering Services at support@lifttruckcapacitycalculator.com.

When working in a warehouse, or for any business that owns and operates forklifts, taking proper safety precautions is of the utmost importance. Owners of forklifts need to ensure that operators are fully trained and authorized to work with the equipment in order to meet compliance standards. Additionally, work areas should be cleared of debris and clutter, to allow forklifts to move and operate freely. This helps reduce the number of injuries and keeps employers and employees aware of best practices for operation at all times.

If forklift safety plans are ignored, there are a number of potential consequences, including:

Damage to warehouse shelving or storage structure
Destruction of product
Property damage
Employee injuries
Damaged work area as a result of spills or broken shelving
Health hazards

In addition, overloading a forklift could cause it to tip over. Damaged products and equipment will end up costing your business more in repair and replacement costs, which can be avoided by taking the time to do the job the right way.

Forklift attachments should be inspected regularly so that repairs to broken forks and other equipment can be made immediately. Train all operators on your attachments and, when you add a new attachment, be sure to retrain all personnel. Know the mechanical limitations of each forklift, and change the capacity, operation, and maintenance instructions when a forklift is equipped with an attachment.

Forklift operators should remain safe when driving a forklift, and they should secure all products before transporting. Inspect the forklift before each use, and always ensure the travel path is free of obstructions before beginning a job.