Help enterprises save costs and reduce accidents - 5 key points of forklift safety management

The Blue Mountains Occupational Safety and Health Conference for Pallet Trucks was held in Pendleton, Oregon, USA in June this year. This meeting mainly focused on the safety aspects of driving cars

, and put forward the following five safety guidelines for the reference of the industry.

1. Safety training

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), there are at least 35,000 serious accidents involving pallet jacks worldwide every year. and 62,000

non-serious incidents. Additionally, in 2015, 96 U.S. workers were killed in accidents involving pallet jacks, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The safety guidelines issued by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry pointed out the injuries suffered by operators who have not been trained in the operation of pallet trucks and have basic knowledge of trucks

And the risk of death increases considerably. Therefore, it is stated in OSHA's 'Industrial Power Truck Standard' (29 CFR 1910.178) that: Employers

should ensure that the operator of the pallet truck in the factory should complete the relevant vehicle safety when operating the pallet truck. training.

OSHA states that a company's pallet jack safety training program should incorporate formal job instruction (such as lectures and written materials) and incorporate practical training and work

Workplace performance evaluation combined. Still, pallet jack operators should be aware of the differences between the different types of pallet jacks.

2. Routine Security Checks

Managers need to urge operators to routinely check pallet trucks before each operation. Routine inspections include the normal operation of the engine, tires, lights, horns, brakes, alarms, hydraulic conditions, and the condition of various body support components.

3. Understand the mechanical burial

The National Safety Council (National Safety Council) has conducted a training program for industrial vehicle and off-road vehicle operators.

Discussion of sex. While these may seem basic, they are critical to improving the safety of drivers and factory workers and those involved:

While pallet jacks and ordinary transport vehicles share some similarities, there are also fundamentally different.

Differentiation between the two:

The pallet truck is an open structure

Its weight ranges from 9,000 to 30,000 Pounds vary

Vehicles are generally less than 20 mph, close to walking speeds

Three-point hitch

Vehicles are more likely to tip over (whether or not Loading)

Small turning radius, suitable for narrow places

NSC recommends operation, and personnel should always wear seat belts when driving the vehicle. Otherwise, once the pallet truck overturns, the operator may be thrown from the pallet truck seat

, which may result in serious personal injury or death. At the same time, the operator should also pay attention to the surrounding working environment

, because it is possible that the fork is too large or too high, which will affect the driver's visual range.

The driver should always pay attention to the safety of the surrounding environment when driving and working. A few OSHA recommendations include:

Always maintain a clear view

Always keep your eye in the direction of travel

Use the pallet jack’s own aids (such as Rearview mirror) to improve the field of vision

Use the dome light when driving at night to improve the visibility of the surrounding work area

4. Understand the principle of 'pallet truck center of gravity'< /p>

The National Safety Council of the United States states that the center of gravity (where the weight is concentrated) of an empty pallet truck is usually higher than that of a normal vehicle. However, if

increasing the load its own center of gravity will change again - once the load is picked up, its center of gravity may be somewhere between the load and the pallet jack.

The center of gravity of the pallet jack is based on a three-point suspension system, whose physical properties resemble a triangle. Its support points are located at both ends of the front axle and the other at the center of the rear axle

. According to NSC, this structure forms a 'stability triangle' in which the operator is placed when the pallet jack is in motion.

However, many factors can cause the pallet truck to break away from the stable triangle structure during operation, including unstable driving, heavy load, excessive width or excessive weight

High, quick start and stop, corners too fast, uneven ground, etc.

Here are some tips to help prevent the pallet truck from tipping over:

1: Before operation, please Make sure the load is completely secure

2: During operation, keep the load low and level

3: Drive slowly in wet or slippery conditions

4: Slow down when turning, and honk at the intersection

5: Goods stacking skills

It is recommended that the operator make sure that the goods are picked up by the forks before picking up the goods. The stability of the goods and the size of the goods can be judged for safe handling.

Also make sure not to overload and keep the load centered.