When your employees operate a forklift you want them to practice good forklift safety. Have all of your operators completed forklift safety training?

Read on to learn more from these forklift safety tips and keep your workforce working well.

Why Forklift Safety Is So Important

The work done on a daily basis by your forklift could never be accomplished by humans. Yet, it’s important to remember that a forklift is a powerful machine and if used incorrectly it has the potential to be quite dangerous.

In 2019, 8,140 workers suffered nonfatal injuries. 79 workers had fatal injuries from a forklift accident. The average injury from a forklift caused the worker to miss 16 days of work.

While a good many operators use a forklift on a daily basis with no issue, it’s significant to remember the average forklift weighs more than three times an average-sized car. If used unsafely, there could be a real potential for danger.

Forklift Hazards

It’s worth noting the half of all forklift accidents are completely preventable. With the right training and safety precautions, forklift accidents can be avoided. Let’s take a look at the most common types of accidents as a way to avoid them happening to you.

Overturning Forklifts

Overturning forklifts account for a significant number of the fatalities that happen with forklift accidents. The most common reasons for a forklift overturning include:

• Uneven weight distribution
• Excess loads
• Unusual loads
• High heights for heavy loads
• Obstructed operator view

The instinct of a driver might be to want to try to jump off if it feels like the forklift is overturning. In fact, the operator is safer remaining on the forklift and leaning away from the direction the forklift is turning.

Pinning and Crushing Accidents

Another unfortunate type of accident is when workers get crushed or pinned by a forklift. This most commonly happens when a worker is in the blindspot of a forklift operator or they get caught under a forklift that is overturned.

One of the best ways to prevent this type of accident is to have carefully laid out workspaces so that pedestrian workers and machinery don’t cross paths.

Loads Falling From a Forklift

Another potential for injury comes when the load being carried falls from the forklift. If the pallet is not properly on the forklift or the load is not even distributed this can cause a load to fall.

Blind Spots

One of the many things a forklift operator needs to learn when participating in forklift safety training is about the blind spots that are created from carrying a load. The load can create blind spots for the operator.

Further, the forklift’s back-end tends to swing wide when making a turn. This can create a danger for those not on the forklift and in the path of the moving machinery.

Speed of the Forklift

Forklifts carrying heavy loads create a real danger when not driving at safe speeds. They take time to stop and if the stop happens too quickly there is the risk of the load falling off the machine overturning.

Forklift Safety Protocols

A trained forklift driver will follow many steps and procedures to maintain safety standards while operating a forklift. Let’s take a look at the things a safe driver will do.

Pre-Operation Inspections

While forklifts are sturdy machines, they need to be inspected before use. An operator should have a regular checklist to inspect the machine. Here are somethings that should be inspected daily:

• Controls
• Fuel, engine oil, and radiator water levels
• Wheels and tires
• Electrolyte levels and cells
• Chain anchor pins
• Hydraulic hose reels
• Control levers
• Forks
• Horn
• Brakes
• Clutch and gear shifts
• All lights and gauges
• Steering
• Lift and tilt mechanisms
• Seat belt
• Reverse beeper and warning lights

Because forklifts do heavy work, inspections are important to note any unusual wear and tear that might create a safety risk.

Pallet Handling and Loading

One thing an operator must do is make certain the forks on the machine are level and the pallet is sitting on them level. If this doesn’t happen there is the risk the load could tip.

An operator needs to know the maximum amount a forklift can lift and how high it can lift that load. Exceeding those specifications creates a safety risk.

Raising the Load

Once the load is in place and moved, it’s important to know when and how to lift the load and place it in its new location. When lifting a load to a new height the driver should bring the load straight up, and then tilt it back slightly. The slight tilt back helps to accommodate the instability created with the height of the load.

Drivers should not raise a load until they are completely stopped and the machine has the brakes locked. Loads should never be lifted and then have a human go under the lifted load.

Steering

Remember, that forklifts can’t make fast stops. Their turns can be wide when taking corners.

When loading and unloading trailers it’s important that the operator know how to approach a trailer safely with the machine.

Safety Equipment

OSHA requires that employers provide workers with the appropriate safety gear. Reflective clothing, hard hats, and safety goggles are just some of the personal protective gear needed.

Practice Good Forklift Safety

While forklifts are an important member of your warehouse or worksite team, they require some real skill to handle. It’s important your workers know the necessary forklift safety protocols to operate and be around forklift machinery. If everyone uses good safety measures, workers remain safe.

To learn more about our fleet of used forklifts available or to get information on forklift operator training, contact us today.

Adding a forklift to your machinery inventory can help you move more materials and increase business capabilities. However, with a new forklift, you also need a certified driver and the right equipment to load and unload materials from tractor-trailers.

A Moffett forklift could be the ideal solution for the convenience you need to handle various loading and unloading tasks. A used Moffett lift means you get a 2-way or 4-way workhorse without the costs of a new machine.

What should you look for in used forklifts for sale? Follow this guide to select the best pre-owned Moffett for your needs!

Make Sure It Fits Your Needs

Not every forklift works well for every use. Saving money on a used forklift that isn’t what you need can be a waste of your budget dollars. Depending on the products or materials you haul for your business, choose a lift made to handle the work you need it to do.

Before buying a lift, ask yourself a few questions, including:

• How often do you need to use it?
• What will it unload, move, and load?
• Will you use it indoors or outside?
• How much load weight will it carry?
• Do you have the space to store and maneuver the machine?
• Can it pass through doorways and fit a building’s ceiling height?
• Are their local ordinances for fumes or noise?

The answers to these types of questions can help you find the best used Moffett forklift for your needs!

Check for Damage

Expect a used machine to come with at least some damage. Small scrapes and minor dents shouldn’t affect the performance of a reconditioned machine added to your business inventory.

However, significant damage can be a warning of operational defects. Problems like bent parts, cracks, large dents, worn forks, and rust can require additional repairs or part replacements—before a forklift is safe to operate. Look for leaks and gaps between links on the lift chain.

Saving money on a machine shouldn’t require sacrificing quality or safety. If you find too much damage on a used forklift, keep looking for a lift in better condition.

Inspect the Tires

Worn tires on a used forklift can indicate that the resellers neglected critical issues before selling the lift. While used tired will show some signs of wear, look for more significant problems like low tread or chunking.

Tires with too much wear make a forklift unsafe without replacing them. Missing chunks of the tire can lead to a blowout. Unless your budget allows for a new set of tires on a used forklift, don’t get stuck with a machine that has significant tire issues.

Review the Safety Features

A quality used forklift should be in excellent condition, including all safety features. Before operating these machines, owners must ensure the lifts pass safety inspections and function appropriately if something goes wrong.

The safety of your forklift operators is paramount! When considering a used forklift, check the proper functionality of the:

• Horn
• Seatbelt
• Lights
• Seat adjustments
• Levers
• Brakes

Be sure to inspect the overhead guards, too. OSHA won’t allow damage on these guards of more than 3/4″ deflection.

If you find safety problems that violate OSHA regulations, you risk purchasing a forklift that isn’t safe to operate without repairs.

Confirm the Age

How old is the forklift? Does it have plenty of use left before it’s too old to operate safely? Is it too new to deliver enough savings through the used forklift price?

When choosing a pre-owned forklift, avoid anything too old or too new. An aging lift won’t be useful for very long without significant used forklift maintenance to keep it running. A lift less than five years old won’t have a price much lower than a new machine.

Settle for an age that’s “just right!” Balance the savings you need by choosing a used lift with many years of good service left before it shows significant age.

Ask About Usage Hours

In addition to the machine’s age, ask a used forklift company about the usage hours for a forklift. A five-year-old machine with high usage hours might not be a better purchase than an older machine with less usage.

A forklift tracks operating hours every time an operator turns the machine on with the key. However, checking usage logs can be a more accurate measure of a forklift’s time in operation.

Usage puts wear and tear on the parts of a forklift. A machine with excessive usage hours can lead to significant repairs after purchasing the lift.

Look at Battery Life

You don’t want to replace the battery as soon as you buy a new-to-you forklift. With standard operations, a forklift battery can last about five years. When evaluating usage hours and the age of a lift, talk with the seller about the battery’s age, too.

Inspect the battery for acid corrosion or other signs that it’s almost time for a replacement. Needing a new battery might not a make-or-break issue to walk away from a used forklift in excellent condition. However, a quality used forklift company won’t try to sell a machine with a battery near the end of its life.

Check the Engine

Conduct a visual inspection of the engine. Look for hose cracks, loose belts, and check the oil and transmission fluid.

Start the forklift and take it for a test drive. The engine should start right away, and the machine’s operation should present no issues during a test run.

Choose the Best Used Moffett Forklift!

Don’t settle for savings without choosing the best used Moffett forklift! Pre-owned machines are only worth the savings if they operate well and don’t require expensive maintenance immediately after purchase.

When shopping for your next used forklift, let Equipment Remarketing help you find the best machine for your needs! We’re a nationwide leader in reselling used Moffet forklifts, with shipping available to anywhere in the country. Contact us to learn more about our pre-owned inventory!