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forktruck is a very dangerous piece of equipment that needs to be operated with much care and attention. Some people see a fork truck as being a big toy and do not take it seriously because the truck does not travel as fast as say a car, but a
forktruck is actually heavier than most automobiles. Accidents that occur with fork trucks can often be fatal due to the size and weight of the machine, and because operators and other workers close by do not take health and safety precautions seriously whilst the truck is in motion.
By following some simple rules many fork truck accidents can be avoided. The operator of a fork truck should never, ever operate the truck without wearing a seat belt. It has been shown with many tests and reports that operators in accidents that are not wearing a seat belt are much more likely to suffer a severe or even fatal injury than those who are wearing a belt. An operator not wearing a seat belt in the midst of an accident is likely to try and jump out of the machine which is where the severity of the injury occurs. An operator strapped into the seat does not endure any injury. Never let another person ride on the forks while the fork truck is in motion. If the truck has an extra seat they can carry an extra person in the cab area but otherwise no one should ride on the fork truck at all. All fork trucks have a maximum weight capacity and this weight load should never be exceeded. Overloading the fork truck will cause it to capsize or cause the truck to malfunction in some way. Never hang out of the forktruck whilst it is in motion, keep your hands and legs inside the cab area at all times while the truck is being operated. Never operate a
forktruck without conducting the necessary safety checks, these checks can make the difference between an accident occurring or not.