OSHA Forklift Safety Guide

OSHA Forklift Safety Guide

Hazard:

Approximately 100 employees are fatally injured and approximately 95,000 employees are injured every year while operating powered industrial trucks. Forklift turnover accounts for a significant number of these fatalities.

Solutions:

• Train and certify all operators to ensure that they operate forklifts safely.
• Do not allow any employee under 18 years old to operate a forklift.
• Properly maintain haulage equipment, including tires.
• Do not modify or make attachments that affect the capacity and safe operation of the forklift without written approval from the forklift’s manufacturer.
• Examine forklift truck for defects before using.
• Follow safe operating procedures for picking up, moving, putting down and stacking loads.
• Drive safely–never exceed 5 mph and slow down in congested or slippery surface areas.
• Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay.
• Do not handle loads that are heavier than the capacity of the industrial truck.
• Remove unsafe or defective forklift trucks from service.
• Operators shall always wear seatbelts.
• Avoid traveling with elevated loads.
• Assure that rollover protective structure is in place.
• Make certain that the reverse signal alarm is operational and audible above the surrounding noise level.