Driving a forklift on a daily basis might become a routine. Operators with experience frequently take their safety for granted. Even the tiniest forklift safety error has the potential to cause serious harm or even death. This is even true when performing such mundane tasks as mounting and dismounting a forklift.
The incorrect mounting and dismounting of vehicles and other equipment are one of the most frequent causes of worker injuries. Operators of forklifts must prioritize safety above all else in their work. Potential hazards of mounting a forklift include:
Slips, trips, and falls
Hitting your head on the overhead guard
Accidentally moving one of the forklift’s controls
Safe forklift operation starts long before the operator sits in the seat. All forklift operators must be trained, evaluated, and certified before being permitted to operate a forklift.
Forklift Inspections
Before mounting a forklift, another crucial safety procedure must be carried out. For each shift, forklifts must be inspected before being utilized. This can be performed using a checklist, such as a forklift inspection checklist. The following components should be examined as part of the examination with regard to mounting and dismounting hazards:
Check the floor for water, oil, or other substances that may make your shoes slippery.
Check the step and floor of the forklift for slippery substances.
Also, check hand holds and the steering wheel and ensure they are clean.
Ensure no steps or hand holds are loose or damaged.
You should also always wear footwear that is appropriate for the workplace. OSHA generally mandates that forklift operators wear footwear with protected toes. Before mounting, always make sure your hands and feet are clean and dry.
Three Points of Contact
Falls while mounting and dismounting forklifts are very common. Using three points of contact while climbing in or out of the cab is an easy way to prevent severe injuries.
Three points of contact mean that three parts of your body are touching the forklift and/or the ground at all times. This means you are either holding on with both hands with one foot on the ground/step, or you have both feet on the ground/step and one hand holding on.
Three points of contact mean that you are only moving one limb at a time, with the other three in contact with the ground or hand holds. This is a very stable way to mount or dismount any vehicle or machine. If one point of contact slips, you still have two left to help you prevent a fall.
In addition, you should only ever mount or dismount while facing the forklift. This is obvious when mounting, but many operators take the shortcut of stepping forward out of the cab. This makes you much less stable and more prone to slipping or falling. When exiting the forklift, always use two handholds and carefully back out of the cab. Lower one foot to the ground, and then the other while holding on with both hands. It may feel overly cautious or slow, but it is a simple way to avoid a common cause of severe injury.
Avoid Hitting the Forklift's Control
When the operator isn't seated, the forklift should ideally be turned off. However, the machine or the mast might move if you remount a forklift that is already in motion and hit one of the controls in the process. Because you are not in control, this could be extremely dangerous.
Forklifts should always be installed on the side that is opposite the mast controls to prevent this possibility. Typically, this is the left side. When mounting or dismounting, never use any of the forklift's controls as a handhold. No matter what, the parking brakes must always be engaged before dismounting the vehicle.
Finally, your seatbelt should be fastened the moment you sit in the seat. It should always be the action you take right away after sitting down. Also, it should be the final action you take before getting up from the seat.
It is always possible to complete a task safely. Complacency and shortcuts result in fatalities. Every time, take the time to mount and dismount forklifts carefully.
For Forklift Safety Training, Advice, and Programs, contact our team today to learn how we can make your workplace safer!