When people are working in different industries and businesses where they have to deal with heavy equipment and machinery; they have to keep in mind that there are certain dangers that they can encounter. These encounters eventually lead to major accidents; which can be the cause of financial loss as well as people could get seriously injured.

Hazards of working with forklifts for sale near me

It doesn’t matter whether the forklift you have bought is a brand new or used forklifts for sale near me; the hazards of working with or near it is always there. A report by OSHA has stated that hundreds of forklift accidents happen each year; leaving at least 100 people to lose their lives and several thousand seriously injured. So if you are working with forklifts then you have to be prepared with the following hazards.

Misuse of the Forklift

A forklift is a piece of equipment not some toy to play with. But many people are not careful misuse and horseplay with the vehicle. Driving a forklift needs skills and concentration but drivers follow the right instructions of operating. They don’t concentrate on the speed on the forklift when they are turning, driving with loads on forks or even try to race in free time.

Accidents Involving Pedestrians

No unauthorized person must be allowed to be near the area where the forklift is operating as it can be dangerous. It has been seen that people standing in the area where the forklift is working get injured. The two most common types of accidents that involve pedestrians are; items falling from above and when the forklift tips over.

The load is not secured

There are factors that determine whether the load is secured or not. The forks of the vehicle can be damaged or worn out. The cables can become weak with the load of work. The mechanism of the hydraulics is working properly. It is also important that controls inside the cabin are good. If anyone of the factor is missing then the load can fall off from of the forklift.

Not caring for the Floor

In every industry, there can be many debris and rubble lying on the floor. It can create disturbance for the people working and especially the machinery working like the forklift that you have bought from famous dealers like Bobby Park Truck and Equipment. The forklift can tip over on either side and the operator sitting inside can get hurt.

Very little maintenance of Moffett forklift

Several of the operators think that the Moffett forklift can survive with only weekly maintenance check but at many times problems start to show which is the consequence of not inspecting the forklift daily. Any kind of malfunction in the controls and working of the vehicle can lead to huge accidents. Checking the forklift daily before and after use is critical.

Careless on the dock area

Docks are places where the surface can be elevated and narrow. So operators are given special training on how to operate carefully on the docks. During the rain, the drivers should be more cautious because it is a possibility that the forklift could slip and fall off from the edge. Also, traffic can be more and it can become difficult to move.

Reckless on the ramps

It is extremely challenging for the operators to drive the forklift on the ramps because there are many incidents that are associated with it. The forklifts can skid backwards if the hand brakes are not applied properly. Or the vehicle can flip to the back because of the load on the pallets. Falling off from the ramp is another hazard to consider.

More load on the Forks

Each kind of forklift has a special weight capacity to bear. If that load is more than the recommended; then it can be the cause of a major accident. The operators make a crucial mistake of loading more items on the pallets so that they can complete their work within time and not do overtime.

Not careful with moving with loads

As a safety procedure, the forklift has to be least 6” above from the ground if you desire to move to other places. If you are carrying the weight at a height higher than 8” then the forklift can lose its balance and trip over. The load can drop on the ground and injure people who are standing nearby.

The load is not balanced

There is a certain position in which the items must be placed on the pallets of the forklift. If it is not considered then the items can fall of. If the load is more than the approved, the items are not secured and the height of elevated then the equilibrium of the forklift is disturbed.

The material carried is unsafe

The forklift should never be used to transport chemicals and other dangerous materials. Although these materials must not be loaded on a forklift; but if it is really necessary then an extremely trained operator must handle it with care.

Never taking safety measures

The most vital aspect to consider when working with forklifts for sale near me is to follow all of the safety instructions that your operator learned in the training sessions. If not then prepare yourself for accidents.