Specific OSHA requirements have to be met in order to use any type of lift truck. Many of the businesses utilizing forklifts will offer basic training to the other sales and office employees in addition to visitors and other non operators who might 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 so as to protect employees from some dangers, such as pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
A huge concern that will have to be addressed is pedestrian safety. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH; around 20 percent of all forklift mishaps comprise a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means around 19,000 people on a yearly basis.
In order to keep everyone safe, there are some basic steps which must be taken into consideration. This is regardless to how frequently or briefly individuals are around industrial trucks during their work day. Among the main factors is that lift truck pedestrian mishaps often happen in situations where the pedestrian is ignorant of safety measures. Issues also occur more often when the pedestrian has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts and ends up complacent.
There are some common situations to look out for in order to avoid placing yourself at possible risk from being struck by a lift truck. Pedestrians not seeing the forklift is a common issue that needs to be dealt with. Lots of operations have varying degrees of intersections or blind corners that pedestrians should be aware of. At times pedestrians do not hear the lift truck. Be very careful of the various kinds of power sources. For example, electric trucks could be a lot quieter than internal combustion engines that are really loud.
The other main problems are when pedestrians come in too close proximity of the machine. Common sense tells us that in order for a pedestrian to be injured by a forklift, the pedestrian needs to be near to be struck. For a forklift which is running, a four foot safety zone is suggested so as to make a safe perimeter for everybody. This really helps to address risks like for instance the model accidentally driving over the foot of a pedestrian.
To make certain that the workplace safety stays top notch and remains paramount, the implementation and following of strict safety protocol is vital.