Forklift safety posters

“Safety: It’s in Your Reach,” “Forklift Safety … An Uplifting Experience” and “Keep it Low, Keep it Slow” are three slogans that can be found on forklift safety posters, which are daily reminders that promote safety for forklift operators.

These attention-getting posters, which are often 18” x 24” in full color, reinforce safety rules and forklift safety. Some posters provide OSHA and state regulations that give your operators the specific rules they must follow to stay in compliance and help you fulfill your OSHA requirement to provide operators with complete information for the daily operation of the forklift.

The posters are available in English and Spanish, sometimes printing the languages front and back, so you can hang it in your facility to inform all your operators.

Posters are available from a variety of vendors and frequently sell for less than $20, a small price to pay for a valuable tool that will help you promote safety among your operators and prevent accidents.

Training requirements

Once trained, the operator should be familiar with the following topics unless the employer can demonstrate that such topics are not applicable to the particular work site where the equipment will be operated, according to Constructionweblinks.com:

* Operating instructions, warnings and precautions for the types of truck the operator will be authorized to use.
* Differences between the truck and automobile.
* Truck controls and instrumentation.
* Engine or motor operation.
* Steering and maneuvering.
* Visibility (including restrictions due to loading).
* Fork and attachment adaptation, operation and use limitations.
* Vehicle capacity.
* Vehicle stability.
* Vehicle inspections, maintenance, refueling and/or charging of batteries.
* Surface conditions where the vehicle will be operated.
* Composition of loads to be carried, load stability, load manipulation, stacking and unstacking.
* Pedestrian traffic, restrictive operating areas and ramps or other sloping surfaces that could affect the operating characteristics of the vehicle.
* Environmental considerations that could result in a buildup of hazardous fumes or exhaust.

Fuel Safety

Four main fuel types are used to power fork trucks: gasoline, diesel, propane, and electric batteries. Thefabricator.com, a metal fabricating site, reports that each fuel type has safety issues, some more than others. Because gasoline is flammable, it should be used outdoors in a nonsmoking area. Safe gasoline storage and dispensing is both an OSHA and an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issue. While less flammable, diesel fuel and diesel exhaust contain known carcinogens, and safe handling procedures must be established for them.

Liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, also known as propane, is a derivative of natural gas. Like gasoline, it's both flammable and explosive. It's also a cryogenic liquid, which means that contact with skin can result in frostbite.

No smoking, open flames, sparks, or electric arcs are permitted near LP tank storage or tank-filling areas. If you fill your own LP tanks, do it outdoors in a well-ventilated area to prevent the buildup of gas vapors. Keep tools and other metallic objects away from LP tanks. Have a charged ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher in filling areas. Ensure that employees understand the proper method of changing an LP tank and the safety precautions to follow. PPE requirements include safety glasses and rubber or leather gloves.

With electric forklifts, electrical shock is a potential hazard, as is the immense weight of the battery—as much as 1,500 pounds. Because hydrogen gas, a byproduct of the industrial battery's charging process, is highly flammable, smoking is prohibited near it. Safety shower and eyewash stations must be readily available in case an employee comes into contact with sulfuric acid.

Inspections

At the start of each shift, operators should perform a visual inspection of the condition of the lift truck and an operational check to test its proper functioning. If you notice anything that may affect the normal operation of the forklift, immediately alert your supervisor. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety offers the following inspection check lists:

Visual Inspection
• floor--clear of objects that could cause an accident
• fire extinguisher present, and charged
• engine oil level, fuel level, radiator water level (LPG, gas and diesel forklifts)
• battery fully charged and securely in place
• cables for exposed wires
• vent caps not clogged
• electrolyte levels in cells
• bolts, nuts, guards, chains, or hydraulic hose reels not damaged, missing or loose
• wheels and tires not worn or damaged
• air pressure of pneumatic tires
• forks not bent or cracked
• positioning latches in good working condition
• carriage teeth not broken, chipped or worn
• chain anchor pins not worn, loose or bent
• no damp spots or drips that may indicate a leak
• hoses held securely, not loose, crimped, worn or rubbing

Operational Pre-Use Inspection
• horn working and loud enough to be heard in working environment; other warning devices operational
• floor brake: pedal holds, unit stops smoothly
• parking brake: holds against slight acceleration
• deadman seat brake: holds when operator rises from seat
• clutch and gearshift: shifts smoothly with no jumping or jerking
• dash control panel: all lights and gauges operational
• steering: moves smoothly
• lift mechanism: operates smoothly (check by raising forks to maximum height then lowering completely)
• tilt mechanism: moves smoothly, holds (check by tilting mast all the way forward and backward)
• cylinders and hoses: not leaking after above checks