By Ruth Kiefer, Vice President of Loss Control

This year our Loss Control department has completed accident investigations for more fork truck related injuries than any other year I have seen in my 17 years at MTM.We have had crush injuries from running over other persons feet, dropping loads on others, being ejected from the fork truck, and pedestrians being struck by fork trucks. So I am here to remind you of some safe travel practices that your operators should take when driving the industrial truck.

• Look in all directions prior to moving for pedestrians and other traffic
• Always look in the direction of travel – if the load blocks your view, you should be driving backwards with the load trailing you.
• Maintain at least three truck lengths from the other trucks.
• Do Not pass other trucks traveling in the same direction
• Follow plant speed limits for safe travel – as a reminder, the speed limit is determined by the company so that under all travel conditions, the truck must operate at a speed that will permit the truck to be brought to a stop in a safe manor.
• When negotiating turns, the driver must slow down to a speed that is low enough that the operator can turn the wheel in a smooth, sweeping motion to prevent tip overs
• Slow down on slippery or wet floors
• Ensure the dockyards or bridge plates are secure before driving over them
• Separate forklift and pedestrian traffic as much as possible – don’t forget those workers who are packing boxes or in QC – persons have been crushed by loads when the drivers slam into pallets.
• Never drive up to anyone who is in front of a bench or other fixed object
• Drive slow and honk your horn when entering/exiting the building, turning around corners, entering intersections, or where your view is blocked.
• Wear seatbelt if provided

As many of you have already heard, there was a recent fatality in Sterling Heights when an operator was crushed by the industrial truck as she was turning a corner at an un-safe speed. For operators of a sit-down counterbalanced truck, MIOSHA states the following should be practiced when you feel the truck start to tip:

• Do NOT jump! Stay in the forklift
• Hold tight to the steering wheel
• Brace your feet
• Lean AWAY from the impact
• Lean forward

Let’s remind our drivers that they are not in a go-cart, they are in a piece of heavy material movement equipment that can easily kill them and others when not operated in a safe and prudent manor. If your operator hits anything, to include any part of a building, their license is immediately revoked and they must be re-trained. If you have any questions regarding training, please contact your Loss Control Consultant, they can refer you to our extensive on-line video library for your training needs. In the mean-time, be safe out there, and slow it down on the warehouse and production floors.