In order to utilize any kind of forklift, specific OSHA requirements need to be met. Several companies provide basic awareness training to other individuals such as visitors and office staff or sales people and other non-operators who might venture into the warehouse or yard. Even if OSHA doesn't specifically address lift truck pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers should take measures so as to protect employees from certain dangers, such as pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
Pedestrian safety is a huge issue that has to be dealt with and not ignored. Based on the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; around 20 percent of all forklift mishaps consist of a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means approximately 19,000 people each and every year.
So as to keep everybody safe, there are several basic steps which must be taken into account. This is regardless to how frequently or briefly people are around industrial trucks during their work day. Amongst the main considerations is that lift truck pedestrian mishaps normally occur in situations where the pedestrian is not aware of safety precautions. Problems also occur more frequently when the pedestrian ends up complacent since he or she has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts.
In order to avoid putting yourself at potential risk of being struck by a forklift, there are several common situations to look out for. Among the most common problems is when pedestrians did not see the lift truck. Many operations have different degrees of blind corners or intersections that pedestrians should be aware of. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the lift truck. Be very careful of the various kinds of power sources. For example, electric trucks can be a lot quieter than internal combustion engines that are really loud.
Coming in too close proximity of the machine is another common concern for pedestrians. In order for a pedestrian to be injured by a forklift, common sense tells us that the pedestrian needs to be near to be struck. For a lift truck that is working, a four foot safety zone is suggested so as to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This helps to deal with risks like for instance the unit accidentally driving over a pedestrian's foot.
Implementing and following strict safety protocol helps to make certain that the workplace safety remains paramount and stays top notch.