Help Your Forklifts & Team Thrive This Winter
Staying on top of your fleet and team during the winter months prevents issues that can arise if your not cold-weather ready, such as leaks, dead batteries and cracked radiators.
Warehouse Safety 101
With over 145,000 people working in over 7,000 warehouses the potential for hazards is staggering. From the use of unsafe forklifts to inadequate fire safety the fatal injury rate for the warehousing industry is higher than the national average of any other industry.
Forklift Safety
Forklifts, if employed properly, can be one of the most important equipment in your work area. However, accidents could nevertheless occur when operating a forklift. The men operating the forklift need to have proper forklift training for operating them to avoid such harmful accidents.
Blue Forklift LED Safety Light
The innovative blue safety light helps avoid forklift/pedestrian collisions. In the USA alone, there are 19,000 forklift/pedestrian accidents each year. Sure backup alarms are effective, but what happens when employees are listening to music, talking on cell phones, or staring at the ground?
That’s where the blue safety light can help! Install the blue light on the rear portion of the forklift’s overhead guard. A focused beam of blue light will appear on the ground behind the forklift.
Why consider Blue Safety Lights?
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 110,000 forklift related accidents of which 85 fatal accidents occur every year.
- $135,000,000 immediate costs are incurred due to forklift accidents each year.
- Despite all efforts to promote workplace safety, an average addition of 94,750 forklift accidents are reported every year.
- Someone in US is killed in a forklift related accident once approximately every 3 work days.
- Nearly 80% of the forklift accidents involve a pedestrian.
- One in six of all workplace fatalities in US is forklift related.
- According to OSHA, approximately 70% of all accidents reported could have been avoided with proper safety.
Features and Benefits:
- Provides visual warning for pedestrians to promote greater safety
- Wide variety of applications from 12 to 48 volts
- Bright blue spot beam projects pattern clearly onto the ground
- UV resistant polycarbonate lens
- Rugged solid state LECs can withstand shock and vibration
- Longer-lasting LEDs mean never having to replace another bulb
- Tough aluminum housing helps prevent rust and corrosion
- Universal Mount
Want to learn more? Visit our Blue Safety Light page or contact us!
OSHA and ANSI Training
OSHA and ANSI have requirements regarding forklift training to maintain safety for all people in the workplace. Different workplace types and conditions are factors in hazards for forklifts. For example, retail establishments often face greater challenges than other worksites in maintaining pedestrian safety. Beyond that, many workers can also be injured when lift trucks are inadvertently driven off loading docks; lifts fall between docks and an unsecured trainer; they are struck by a lift truck; or they fall while on elevated pallets or other objects.
It is up to you, the employer, to see that your operators and fleet managers are aware of the regulations and that your company is in compliance.
Operators that receive ongoing training are more efficient at operating your forklifts. This efficiency translates into more productive employees. Improved morale and efficiency gained from training will increase how much work each of your operators can accomplish in a day, and that improves your bottom line. These best practices decrease the likelihood of injuries to operators and damage to equipment and property.
When observing operators using equipment, remember to ask:
- Is the driver wearing a seat belt?
- Is the operator driving at safe speeds?
- Does the driver sound the horn when approaching blind spots, end of aisles or backing up?
- When transporting a load, is the load 6” to 10” off of the floor?
- Is the driver’s visibility blocked?
- Does the operator use a spotter when the load is blocking his visibility?
Companies that do not emphasize safety and ongoing training of their drivers are easy to spot with this quick observation. KMH offers training that fulfills both ANSI and OSHA laws. With proper training, you reduce downtime due to improper operation and provide effective, timely maintenance/repair of your fleet. We provide a range of forklift training classes at progressive levels to meet your needs!
All of this results in equipment that stays in better condition for a longer period of time, an increase in useful life of your forklifts, and lower operating costs.
We provide a range of forklift training classes at progressive levels to meet your needs!
Benefits of Forklift Safety Training
There is a distinct difference between teaching someone something, like safe forklift operation, and truly training them how to perform the function safely and efficiently. A comprehensive training for your forklift operators provides you with not only protection from potential liabilities, but also enhances your operation. Proper training will also lower your costs in terms of less damage to the products your operators move, and to your facility. The bottom line is thorough, documented and formalized training leads to better care for your equipment, your products, your facility and your bottom line.
Increased useful life and lower operating costs
Training not only in safe, proper forklift operation, but also proper inspections will result in catching small maintenance issues and fixing them before they become giant repair headaches. Knowing proper methods of operating a forklift results in less wear and tear on your equipment. Your equipment stays in better condition for a longer period of time and lowers operating costs.
Improved productivity
Operators that receive ongoing training are more efficient at operating your forklifts. This efficiency translates into more productive employees. Improved morale and efficiency gained from training will increase how much work each of your operators can accomplish in a day, and that improves your bottom line.
Better morale and improved “spirit” of safety
Employees that are professionally trained truly feel cared for, and they should! Each of your forklift operators is in control of a very dangerous piece of equipment. One wrong move could permanently change their lives or the lives of people working around the forklift. When they know you “have their back” and are not simply going through the motions to appease government, they respond positively by projecting that spirit of safety into other facets of your operation and will “have your back” by letting you know of other possible improvements that could benefit your company.
Comply with regulatory
OSHA and ANSI have requirements regarding forklifts. And ultimately it is up to you, the employer, to make sure your operators and fleet managers are aware of the regulations and you are in compliance. Failure to comply not only opens your company up for potential fines, but also for fiscal damages should an injury occur.
Mark your calendars: June 14th is National Forklift Safety Day!
National Forklift Safety Day provides an opportunity for industry leaders to educate forklift users and lawmakers on the administration of safe forklift operational practices. About 100 employees are killed and 95,000 injured every year while operating forklifts in all industries. Forklift turnovers account for a significant percentage of these fatalities.
Safety Solutions:
• Train, evaluate and certify all operators to ensure that they can operate forklifts safely;
• Do not allow anyone under 18 years old to operate a forklift;
• Before using a forklift, examine it for hazardous conditions which would make it unsafe to operate;
• Drive safely, never exceeding 5 mph and slow down in congested areas or those with slippery surfaces;
• Ensure that the operator wears a seatbelt installed by the manufacturer;
• Use front & rear safety lights and alarms
• Never drive up to a person standing in front of a fixed object such as a wall or stacked materials;
• Do not handle loads that are heavier than the weight capacity of the forklift;
• Remove unsafe or defective trucks from service until the defect is properly repaired;
• Maintain sufficiently safe clearances for aisles, docks or passages where forklifts are used;
• Provide covers and/or guardrails to protect workers from pits, tanks, vats and ditches;
The following OSHA checklists may help you take steps to avoid hazards that cause injuries, illnesses and fatalities. As always, be cautious and seek help if you are concerned about a potential hazard. General Safety:
❏ Floors and aisles are clear of clutter, electrical cords, hoses, spills and other hazards that could cause employees to slip, trip or fall.
❏ Proper work practices are factored into determining the time requirements for an employee to perform a task.
❏ Employees performing physical work have adequate periodic rest breaks to avoid fatigue levels that could result in greater risk of accidents and reduced quality of work.
❏ Newly-hired employees receive general ergonomics training and task-specific training.
❏ The warehouse is well ventilated.
❏ Employees are instructed on how to avoid heat stress in hot, humid environments.
❏ Employees are instructed on how to work in cold environments.
❏ The facility has lockout/tagout procedures.
KMH continually strives to educate our customers about lift truck operation, safety and industrial regulations for both ANSI and OSHA. With proper forklift training, you can reduce your downtime due to improper operation and provide effective, timely maintenance and repair of your lift truck fleet. We provide a range of forklift training classes at progressive levels to meet your needs!
To learn more about our safety programs: http://www.kmhsystems.com/service-solutions/forklift-training/ Or call us at: 888-564-7978