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Be Aware When Operating a Fork Lift Truck
As with many large pieces of machinery and equipment there are safety precautions to take when operating a fork lift truck. It is a legal requirement that anyone operating a fork lift truck is trained and they have the appropriate certification proving they are qualified. Misuse of a forklift truck is not only a chargeable offence but is extremely dangerous and can hurt others around you. When driving a forklift truck you do not only need to pay attention to what is going on inside the forklift but to what is going on around you as well. It is just like when driving a vehicle on the road even though you can drive a car perfectly safely you can still have accidents by not keeping your eye on the road and other cars around you.
Important aspects to look out for when driving a forklift
Uneven surfaces and drops – more than likely the surfaces that you will be operating the forklift truck on will not be smooth and will be relatively uneven and rough. Watch out for pot holes, bumps, ramps, dock platforms, dock bridges, and inclines. The forklift will no doubt be able to handle this surface but in order for the operator to keep control they need to be on the look out for these hazards.
Visibility is key – accidents on worksites and shop floors do happen and so it is important to minimalise these accidents as much as possible especially with such heavy and dangerous machines as forklifts. The operator must always ensure that they have clear visibility when maneuvering a forktruck which includes checking they can see out of their windows at all times (they may need a clean), checking their mirrors are positioned correctly and so on.
Daily checks – by law forktruck operators are required to check the fork lift truck and the fork lift parts on a daily basis and a more thorough examination on a weekly basis. This checks certain parts such as the brakes, the wheels, the forks and so on. Making these daily checks can be the difference in having an accident or not.