Fork Lift Awareness

Fork Lift Awareness

Fork Lift Accidents OSHA estimates that there are 680,400 accidents each year Approximately 90,000 employees suffer some type of injury

Fork Lift Accidents losses affect employees – physical suffering – mental suffering

Benefits of Fork lifts Assist in the movement of materials Reduce employee injuries

Fork Lift operating environments Pedestrians Blind spots Indoors/Outdoors Narrow aisles Building columns Operate 24 hours per day Turning radius

Fork Lift and Pedestrians Pedestrians contribute to accidents Pedestrians do no understand stopping distances Pedestrians tried to “beat” a lift truck

Methods used to reduce Fork Lift Accidents Training of drivers Maintenance of equipment Areas of operation

Fork Lift Accidents Losses affect employers – damage to equipment – loss productivity

A breakdown of the 680,400 accidents: 90,000 employees injured 100 deaths Source: Powered industrial truck accidents report through OSHA’s “First report of serious accidents” 1985-1990

In percent what Causes Lift Truck Accidents? Ran off loading dock 7 12.2 Struck by falling load 14.4 Struck by powered fork lift Elevated employee on lift 18.8 25.3 Tip over of fork lift 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

In percent what Causes Lift Truck Accidents? 3.1 Faulty powered lift 4.4 Employees overcome by fumes 4.4 Fork lift struck material 4.4 Lost control of the fork lift Improper maintenance procedures 0 1 2 3 4 6.1 5 6 7

In percent what Causes Lift Truck Accidents? 1 Electrocutions 2.6 Improper use of fork lift Employee fell from fork lift Unloading unchocked trailer 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 3.1 3.1 2.5 3 3.5