Specific OSHA requirements need to be met in order to use any type of forklift. Many of the companies utilizing lift trucks will offer basic training to the other office and sales employees along with visitors and other non operators who may venture into the distribution areas. Even if OSHA doesn't specifically address forklift pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers must take measures in order to protect employees from some risks, like for example pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
A huge problem that would need to be dealt with is pedestrian safety. According to the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; roughly 20% of all forklift accidents include a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means roughly 19,000 people on an annual basis.
However briefly or frequently individuals are around industrial trucks during their work day, there are several basic steps that must be taken so as to keep everyone safe. Amongst the main factors is that lift truck pedestrian accidents normally occur in cases where the pedestrian is ignorant of safety precautions. Problems also happen more frequently when the pedestrian has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts and ends up complacent.
So as to avoid putting yourself at potential risk of being struck by a forklift, there are some common situations to look out for. Amongst the most common problems is when pedestrians did not see the lift truck. Numerous operations have varying degrees of intersections or blind corners that pedestrians must be aware of. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the forklift. Be careful of the various types of power sources. For instance, electric trucks may be much quieter compared to internal combustion engines that are really loud.
Coming in too near the equipment is another common concern for pedestrians. In order for a pedestrian to be injured by a forklift, common sense tells us that the pedestrian has to be near to be struck. For a lift truck that is running, a four foot safety zone is recommended in order to make a safe perimeter for everybody. This really helps to deal with risks like for example the model accidentally driving over the foot of a pedestrian.
To make sure that the workplace safety stays top notch and remains paramount, following and the implementation of strict safety protocol is key.