Workplace safety is the top priority for the modern material handling industry. Warehouse facilities require in-plant vehicle movement safety solutions to ensure that forklift operators work in a safe environment and avoid forklift fatalities.

On June 14th, 2022, material handling professionals, forklift manufacturers and operators, customers, and policymakers will celebrate the 9th National Forklift Safety Day organized by Industrial Truck Association (ITA) to address forklift safety rules and modern developments.

OSHA estimates that in the US, approximately 100,000 workers are injured due to forklift accidents every year. They also estimate that driving safety training can prevent nearly 70% of these accidents. Let’s look at some of the reasons that cause such accidents.  

Common Causes of Forklift Accidents 

Forklift accidents vary for different forklift types. OSHA classifies forklifts into seven categories. Each is meant for different operations, and failure to comply with their intended usage can result in warehouse accidents. However, forklift hazards are generally caused due to:

• Poorly trained drivers
• Inappropriate warehouse design that overlooks workplace safety
• Inadequate warehouse markings and alert signs
• Speeding forklifts and making sharp turns
• Transporting elevated material loads

Even minor negligence can result in fatal incidents such as forklift tipping over due to wrong turns or extra weight, forklift hitting in-plant pedestrians, etc. The National Forklift Safety Day aims to raise awareness among stakeholders about the safety policies that can result in avoiding injuries and fatalities. Let’s discuss various forklift safety guidelines below.

10 Rules for Forklift Safety

Due to growing eCommerce demand, forklift sales and usage will increase further to handle heavy materials in warehouses and fulfillment centers. This results in an increased influx of workers. Today, it is more important than ever to educate forklift operators and warehouse workers according to standard safety protocols. Let’s discuss some forklift safety rules below.

1. Conduct frequent forklift inspections like testing brakes, lights, and horns.
2. Only trained forklift operators can drive forklifts
3. Use standard protective gear for operating forklifts
4. Maintain standard forklift speed in the warehouse
5. Forklift operators should always mind their surroundings and other people
6. Load and unload materials using standard protocols
7. Keep the load on the same level during traveling
8. Only park or stop at designated places to load and unload materials
9. Follow floor markings and color-coded signs
10. No additional riders should be present on the forklift other than the operator.

OSHA offers specific policies and regulations to ensure that forklift operators comply with safety standards. In addition to standard protocol, modern technology is vital in reducing forklift hazards. Let’s discuss how SafetyConnect’s in-plant vehicle movement safety solution reduces warehouse accidents. 

How Can the Modern Material Handling Industry Reduce In-Plant Forklift Hazards? 

Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) offer accurate predictive analysis in various domains. Now, companies are using AI to identify patterns in workplace accidents to predict future hazards.

SafetyConnect offers an AI-based in-plant vehicle movement safety solution that can analyze movement patterns in the warehouse to predict near-miss incidents. Our clients have used our safety checklist, safety audits, SOS, and near miss incident reporting in a single app and recorded a 73% reduction in major accidents within six months of deployment.

Contact us to get a demo to our AI-based in-plant vehicle movement safety solution.

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