Specific OSHA requirements need to be met in order to operate any kind of forklift. Many of the companies utilizing lift trucks would offer basic training to the other office and sales employees in addition to visitors and other non operators who may venture into the distribution areas. Though OSHA doesn't particularly address forklift pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers need to take measures in order to protect employees from certain dangers, like pedestrians exposed to moving lift trucks.
A huge concern that will need to be dealt with is pedestrian safety. Based on the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; roughly 20 percent of all forklift mishaps include a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic translates to roughly 19,000 individuals every year.
In order to keep everyone safe, there are several basic steps which must be taken into consideration. This is regardless to how frequently or briefly people are around industrial trucks during their work day. Among the major factors is that forklift pedestrian accidents normally occur in situations where the pedestrian is not aware of safety precautions. Problems also happen more frequently when the pedestrian has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts and ends up complacent.
There are several common situations to look out for so as to prevent placing yourself at potential risk from being struck by a lift truck. Pedestrians not seeing the lift truck is a common issue that needs to be addressed. Numerous operations have varying degrees of intersections or blind corners which pedestrians should be aware of. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the forklift. Be very careful of the various kinds of power sources. For instance, electric trucks could be a lot quieter than IC engines that are super loud.
The other major issues are when pedestrians come in too near the machine. Common sense tells us that in order for a pedestrian to be injured by a lift truck, the pedestrian has to be in close enough proximity to be struck. For a lift truck which is running, a four foot safety zone is recommended so as to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This helps to deal with risks like for instance the unit accidentally driving over the foot of a pedestrian.
Following and implementing strict safety protocol helps to make certain that the workplace safety stays top notch and remains paramount.