Tip overs

What should forklift operators do if the lift truck starts to tip over? Should they stay in the vehicle, or jump out quickly?

If you said “Jump out,” you’d be wrong. If operators do that, they put their lives in danger. The safest way to survive a tip over is to stay in the vehicle, seat belt fastened, with a tight grip on the steering wheel and feet braced against the floor, leaning forward and away from the direction of the tip over.

Staying in the forklift during a tip over keeps the operator from being pinned by the mast or forklift structure. Wearing a seat belt keeps the head and torso with the confines of the truck and reduces the risk of the head and torso being trapped between the lift guard and the ground.

Tip overs are the second leading cause of forklift-related deaths. Proper training helps operators avoid them or deal with the properly if they occur.