Specific OSHA requirements have to be met in order to operate any kind of forklift. A lot of the businesses using lift trucks will offer basic training to the other sales and office staff in addition to visitors and other non operators who may venture into the distribution areas. Though OSHA doesn't specifically deal with forklift pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers should take measures in order to protect employees from certain dangers, like for example pedestrians exposed to moving lift trucks.
A big problem which would need to be addressed is pedestrian safety. Based on the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; around 20 percent of all forklift mishaps comprise a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means approximately 19,000 individuals on an annual basis.
Then again frequently or briefly people are around industrial trucks during their work day, there are some basic steps that should be taken so as to keep everyone safe. Amongst the major considerations is that forklift pedestrian mishaps usually happen in cases where the pedestrian is not aware of safety measures. Issues also happen more often when the pedestrian has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts and ends up complacent.
In order to avoid putting yourself at possible risk of being struck by a lift truck, there are some common situations to look out for. Among the most common issues is when pedestrians did not see the forklift. Numerous operations have various degrees of blind corners or intersections that pedestrians need to be aware of. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the forklift. Be careful of the various kinds of power sources. Like for instance, electric trucks may be much quieter than internal combustion engines that are really loud.
The other main 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 needs to be in close enough proximity to be struck. For a lift truck that is working, a four foot safety zone is recommended so as to make a safe perimeter for everybody. This really helps to deal with risks like for example the unit driving accidentally over the foot of a pedestrian.
To make sure that the workplace safety remains paramount and stays top notch, following and the implementation of strict safety protocol is key.