Archive for the ‘Forklift Safety’ Category

Improving Pedestrian Safety in a Forklift Environment

by Mariah Erhardt

Can traffic accidents happen only in parking lots or on busy streets?

Unfortunately, no. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 20,000 workers are seriously injured each year in the United States due to forklift-related incidents. 100 employee fatalities are also reported due to the same reason. Many workers and employers are unaware of forklift hazards and are not following the procedures set forth in federal regulations or equipment manufacturer guidelines.

Pedestrian safety can be improved with appropriate preventative measures in environments with frequent forklift traffic. Detailed awareness training, effective traffic management, and the use of proper safety equipment make this possible. Both drivers and pedestrians can make a difference in reducing forklift-related accidents.

Employee Training

Employees who work around forklifts (whether directly or not) are responsible for safe forklift operations. The following pointers can help ensure that forklift operations remain safe for pedestrians and operators alike:

  • Only qualified drivers should operate forklifts, and forklift operators should always be aware of pedestrians in the area.
  • Operators should stay in marked routes, slow down, and sound their horns when approaching intersections, corners, or turns.
  • Pedestrians should be aware of forklifts in the area and maintain a safe distance. Pedestrians should pause to look both ways before stepping through a side door, around a corner, or into an aisle.
  • Employees approaching forklifts should make sure that the driver is aware of their presence. Pedestrians should always approach them from the side, never directly in front or behind, and only when the vehicle comes to a full stop.
  • Employees should never try to overtake a forklift. Let the forklift pass instead.
  • Employees should avoid standing in areas where they may be pinned against a wall or fixture.
  • Employees should not walk or work beneath truck loads.
  • Most forklifts accommodate one driver only. Employees may only ride when a proper seat is provided.
  • Trucks should not exceed their load capacity.
  • Immediately report malfunctions and other problems to the proper personnel.
  • Aisles and adjacent areas should be clear of obstructions. Clean up spills promptly.

Traffic Management Measures

Warehouses, industrial plants, and other large facilities should implement protocols regarding the right of way. Vehicle and pedestrian routes should remain separate as much as possible, identified by the proper signage and pavement lines. Operators and pedestrians should be familiar with both routes, not just the ones they are most likely to use.  When applicable, facilities should also have traffic barriers set up.

Safety Equipment 

Forklifts must have horns and warning lights. Alarms are also extra safety precautions to add to any machinery in your warehouse. Curved mirrors can improve pedestrian visibility, especially at intersections. Pedestrians should always wear high-visibility vests when walking or working near high-traffic areas.

Pedestrian forklift safety is an important part of your warehouse safety program. Promote forklift safety awareness to constantly remind your employees to pay attention and be aware of their surroundings. Emedco offers innovative warehouse safety products to help reduce accidents involving industrial equipment and improve your facility’s safety tactics.

4 Tips for Forklift Safety

by Andrew

Warehouse Safety

Among industrial jobsites, warehouses are well-known for featuring both outdoor and indoor traffic. Indoor traffic consists of the combination of pedestrian and heavy machinery operating in the same space. More specifically, forklifts make up the majority of vehicle traffic and are also responsible for a large amount of accidents. In fact, OSHA estimates that there are nearly 35,000 serious injuries as a result of forklifts every year. Though forklifts often pose greater risks to the safety of employees working in your warehouse, they are a necessary part of taking inventory efficiently.

Prioritizing Safety in Your Warehouse

Luckily, increasing the safety in your own warehouse — especially in regards to forklift traffic — is easier than you think. You don’t need to go looking for a brand-new warehouse space just yet. Sometimes, all you need is to do is add a little visibility to the most at-risk areas around your warehouse. Here are four areas to focus on when it comes to forklift safety:

  1. Aisle Corners
    The corners located at the ends of each of your warehouse aisles are often the sources of blind spots. To combat that, you should add a little light to those areas. Additionally, make sure you install safety mirrors to increase visibility around all your aisle corners and hang up forklift traffic signs to warn individuals to be even more careful in such dangerous areas around the warehouse.
  2. Aisle Pathways
    Just as you would on any city street, you can post speed limit signs to discourage speeding by forklift operators. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that forklift speeds shouldn’t exceed 5 mph. In the same vein, remind operators to proceed with caution around slippery and narrow areas.
  3. Places Where Workers Gather
    From exits to restrooms and breakrooms, you should make a point of adding tools to increase safety in areas that your employees hang out. Plant traffic and forklift safety signs are great ways to help keep machine operators and pedestrians safe in your warehouse. Remind forklift operators to slow down when approaching areas like these and consider designating a pedestrian lane with floor marking products.
  4. Maintenance Areas
    As you know, there will be times that certain parts of your warehouse require extensive cleaning or maintenance. Make sure you have enough floor safety cones to use when necessary. You can even pick out safety cones that feature forklift-specific wording, too.

From forklift alert systems to safety signs, Emedco has everything you need to keep all your workers safe, regardless of the warehouses in which they work. Just give our team of professionals a call at (866) 748-5963 or visit Emedco.com to find safety solutions for every challenge.

Top 10 Most Important Workplace Hazard Safety Signs for Any Facility

by Julianne Bass

EME WPS Top 10 Signs 225

“I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes…” Ace of base really was on to something with that one hit wonder. Signs are all around us and yet we still miss their messages at times. In the workplace, not being aware of these critical alerts can lead to disastrous situations. While signs outside of work may struggle to stand out amongst the clutter and confusion, a workplace should have streamlined, cohesive approach to how messages are posted, reserving safety signage for the most important safety messages. Here is a rundown of the top 10 most important safety signs every facility should have.

  1. The Exit Sign

Any time you enter a facility, the first thing you should look for is how to exit that very same facility. In any building that is in compliance with OSHA and NFPA regulations there should be clearly marked exits and unobstructed routes to get to them. You never know when an emergency may occur or just the urge to get out of there!

  1. The Authorized Personnel Only Sign

Everyone has their nosy moments, wanting to see what goes on behind the scenes and out of view; however at times that can go against your best interests when it comes to safety. If there are areas within a facility that should be kept off limits to most, and should only be deemed accessible by people with particular credentials, post authorized personnel only signage at the entry points of those areas and take further steps to secure them from the general public. An area where an authorized personnel sign could be needed could include and HR department where there are private documents or any area where there is lab testing or hazardous chemicals.

  1. The PPE Sign

When entering into an area of a facility where there are hazards that pose a threat to a workers well being, it is important to alert them to the proper precautions they should take before entering to protect themselves against harm. Areas like this could include a construction site, or a manufacturing floor where there could be flying objects or moving parts.

  1. The Danger Flammable Sign

Anywhere there is a substance that is capable of ignition or causing a fire, there should be a Danger Flammable sign. Often automotive garages that have extra oil and gasoline lying around these signs can be found. In addition, any areas that are used to store chemicals, even cleaning products; should be labeled with this warning as well. Any liquid or gas that is combustible poses a clear and present threat.

  1. The Biohazard Sign

The biohazard sign can be found in areas where harmful biological substances are present. Biohazard signs are very common in healthcare settings where bodily fluids are commonly dealt with, that could pass on germs and perhaps disease to others if not properly handled or disposed of.

  1. The Electrical Safety Sign

Electrical safety is an ongoing hot button issue in workplace safety. It holds 3 of the top 10 most cited violations for OSHA, and takes countless lives each year due to improper safety precautions when workers come in contact with it. High voltage signs should be posted anywhere the threat of contact with dangerous electrical current is present. This is a very serious area of concern in all workplaces that it affects, signage is a great first step in getting a workers’ attention and alerting them of an electrical hazard in their area.

  1. The Danger Confined Space Sign

A confined space is not intended for continuous occupancy by workers by definition, however at times, it is required for workers to enter confined spaces for maintenance and other tasks. By posting confined space signage at these points of entry, this alerts workers that these areas and the tasks associated with them are only for workers who have been properly trained in working in confined spaces and should only be entered by those who have permits and have gone through the proper alerting processes as it pertains to letting coworkers know of the work they are performing, where, when , and for how long so that they are accompanied by the right personnel for assistance.

  1. The Machine Safety Sign

When working in the presence of heavy duty machinery it is important to know the functions of each machine to ensure that your workers stay out of harm’s way. A machine that can start up without warming poses a major threat to a worker when it comes to caught-in injuries, lacerations, and amputations. Posting this sign with help to remind an employee about the machine that they are working around however when performing maintenance on a machine the proper lockout tag out procedures should always be followed.

  1. The Forklift Safety Sign

Maintaining a safe flow of traffic around a facility that incorporate forklifts and foot traffic within the same area can come with its own set of difficulties and safety hazards. When operating a forklift around a bustling floor many things can go unheard due to noise or unseen due to blind spots. While the pedestrian should always have the right of way, if a person is unseen and unheard, this is where the danger rises. Posting forklift traffic signs in these areas can help make all workers more aware.

  1. The Slips, Trips and Falls Sign

Everyday slips trips and falls are some of the most common and also some of the most costly when it comes to workplace safety injuries. All it takes is an uneven surface, a step down, a box that falls out of place or a chord in a walkway to cause serious injury. If there are known areas within your facility where tripping incidents or near misses consistently occur consider posting a caution sign.

While every workplace safety hazard cannot be solved by safety signage, providing the right alert messaging starts your workplace safety program off on the right foot. When clear, consistent, and cohesive messaging is present, it will provide a strong safety foundation for any workplace to incorporate into their procedures for a sustainable workplace safety strategy.

Eliminating The Top 10 OSHA Safety Violations from Your Workplace in 2016

by Julianne Bass

OSHAtop10

Every year on the last week of September the NSC Conference has a big unveiling of the year’s 10 OSHA Top Violations, but when you look at the hard facts, much of those top ten OSHA safety violations have remained unchanged for quite a few years running. If these are the most troubling violations leading to injury and death year over year, why hasn’t there been more of an effort to make a change? Why wouldn’t we eliminate these workplace safety hazards from continuing to be a danger to workers? Where is the ball being dropped? Is it with OSHA, or with individual companies?

Here are some helpful tips that will help you eliminate top 10 OSHA safety violations from your workplace in 2016.

Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501), 7,402 total violations

Fall protection has been at the top of OSHA’s list for 5 years in a row, with much concern and attention paid to the impact it has on the safety of workers specifically in the construction industry. When working at heights of 10’s or even 100’s of feet in the air it is critical to ensure that your workers not only have the right fall protection supplied to them but that they also know how to properly use it before any work begins. Incorrect implementation of safety precautions and fall protection safety signs are just as dangerous if not worse than having none at all.

Want to learn more about fall protection?  Read Don’t Fall Out Of Compliance: What You Need To Know About Fall Protection

Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), 5,681 total violations

2016 will bring with it the final GHS deadline in June 2016. While it has been a long and difficult process to implement protocols all the way up the supply chain and stick to deadlines, once all is said and done, GHS compliance will have a great impact on osha safety standards and safety for workers who interact with dangerous substances on a regular basis.  Through cost reductions, productivity improvements and decreased instances of injury and illness GHS will begin saving a total of $745 million annually across all industries it has impacted.

Want to learn more about GHS? 

Read more about Symbols of Danger: Understanding GHS Pictograms

Scaffolding (29 CFR 1926.451), 4,681 total violations

In another issue specific to the construction industry, 72 percent of workers injured in scaffold accidents identify the planking or support giving way or slipping, or being struck by a falling object. Ensuring that scaffolding is erected properly before work begins goes a long way in protecting workers in addition to having regularly scheduled assessments,  proper implementation of osha safety signs and fall protection guardrails in place for those who will be working on or around scaffolding areas.  Enforcing PPE rules for those who will be working in these areas is also crucial when it comes to preventing struck by hazards caused by falling objects.

Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134), 3,626 total violations

2016 may become a year of big changes when it comes to respiratory protection as it concerns permissible exposure limits and the passing of OSHA’s workplace safety long awaited Silica rule. Outside of reducing the levels of acceptable exposures, when it comes to providing protections against chemicals that cannot be eliminated from work processes, selecting the proper respiratory protection can prove to be tricky. The most important step to selecting the correct respiratory solution for your workplace starts with have a good understanding of the substance you are trying to protect against. Not all respiratory protection is created equally and each workplace safety hazards come with its own rules and solutions for protecting your workers against them. Choose wisely and make sure your solutions properly fit your workers.

Want to learn more about respiratory protection? Read up on Respiratory Protection: Compliance Myths

Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) (29 CFR 1910.147), 3,308 total violations

Number 5 on the 10 OSHA Top violations, Lockout Tagout often is an area that can easily become overwhelming for those in charge of keeping their procedures up to snuff. If one little thing changes, the whole procedure may need rewriting. However, never fear technology is on your side with many different procedure writing software’s and services available it is easy to get someone out to your facility and assist you in creating a plan that is sustainable and can be easily maintained.

Want to learn more about Lockout/Tagout? Read Are You Creating Effective Lockout Tagout Procedures?

Powered Industrial Trucks, General Industry (29 CFR 1910.178), 3,004 total violations

Forklift safety is only one piece of the pie when it comes to creating an effective powered industrial trucks safety plan. Realizing that these trucks are interacting with humans the battle of man -vs- machine is important to keep in mind (HINT the loser is always man). When creating a game plan to keep all workers safe consider the physical conditions of your facility; how pedestrian traffic will interact with truck traffic, and also if there are any hazardous areas that should be deemed off limits to forklifts such as areas that are enclosed or have little ventilation. Lastly, make sure that OSHA safety signs are properly implemented in your facility.

Want to learn more about forklift safety? Read Forklift Safety Best Practices: How Workplace Conditions Affect Safety Operations

Ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053), 2,732 total violations

Ladder safety seems like a no brainer when you get down to it. Make sure it is in working order, that it is clean, and that it has secure placement before use. However, there is no way to account for the unexpected. A number of things could go wrong while climbing to heights at which a fall could prove fatal.  Ladder safety should not be overlooked and starts with having a clear understanding of the basic principles. But a workplace should always have fall protection safety signs in place and a backup plan when unexpected hazards emerge such as wind, flying objects, animals, ladder malfunction etc.

Want to learn more about ladder safety? Read Step up: Best Practices of Ladder Safety

Electrical (Wiring) (29 CFR 1910.305), 2,624 total violations

The misuse of cord and cables, uninsulated wiring and extension cords are where this violation saw the most offenders, with the silver lining being the number of total incidences for this standard are trending downward from 2014 to 2015. Other good news from OSHA shows that they are revisiting these OSHA safety standards for updates after 40 years of being untouched and on the books. Changes made to this 40 year old rule are thought to be able to save an additional 20 lives per year while preventing 118 other injuries.

Want to learn more about Electrical (Wiring)? Breaking Down the Regulation

Machine Guarding (29 CFR 1910.212), 2,540 total violations

Losing an arm or eye because of exposure to blades, getting caught in a machine, or particles flying off of a machine are all causes for concern when it comes to machine guarding. When production timelines are tight, these are the times that machine guarding accidents are most likely to occur. When chaos ensues workers are more likely to begin to cut corners and could land themselves in a very dangerous situation. With the proper OSHA safety signs implementation and guarding in place facilities are able to eliminate the possibility of these life altering injuries from occurring. Protecting workers from points of exposure and improving anchoring of a fixed machine are two ways to improve any machine guarding safety plan.

Want to learn more about machine safety? An Introduction to Machine Guarding

Electrical, General (29 CFR 1910.303), 2,181 total violations

Improper installation or use of tolls and equipment are main concerns for the Electric Standard to round out the 10 OSHA top violations. As with the wiring regulations, OSHA is also putting a fresh set of eyes to this standard as well in hope to continue to drive incidents and violations because of this standard down.

Want to learn more about Electrical Safety? Preventing Facility Hazards: Electrical Safety Tips You Need to Know

It goes without saying that OSHA will have a busy year ahead of it in 2016 and with fines increasing by 80% and inspectors performing longer and more comprehensive audits, it is in the best interest of all facilities to do everything within their power to comply before OSHA safety violations occur or even worse—before injury or fatality occurs.

Need help assessing the safety needs around your facility? We can help. Click here.

Forklift Safety Best Practices: How Workplace Conditions Affect Safety Operations

by Julianne Bass

forklift

Understanding the dynamic of your work environment is essential when applying best practice navigation and forklift safety throughout your facility.

Physical Conditions:

Consider the physical conditions of your facility

  • Are there any known and constant obstructions or uneven surfaces that should be accounted for such as large stacks of pallets, columns, storage etc.?
  • Are there any breaks in the floor or steps down to a lower level that are not clearly marked that could be missed in transit?
  • Consider the construction of your building itself are there potential floor loading limits that the use of a forklift may exceed, and are the overhead clearances such that there will be no issues with navigation and if so are they identified?

                Pedestrian Traffic:

Pedestrian traffic should be a primary concern and should always have the right of way when using forklifts around your facility.

  • Slow down, stop and sound horn at intersections, corners, and wherever your vision is obstructed to reduce the likelihood of collision.
  • Use a spotter for blind spots and Proceed cautiously through any congested areas.
  • If at all possible consider separating pedestrians from lift trucks by providing special designated pedestrian lanes or forklift lanes to avoid cross over.

                Enclosed and Hazardous Areas:

Know what type of truck you have and its designated areas for usage. OSHA has categorized forklifts into 11 specific types.

  • Know that you should not ever operate a gasoline/propane/diesel engine for long periods of time in a confined area.
  • Drive sensibly. Avoid racing the engine or idling for long periods of time to reduce the emissions of fumes from trucks.
  • Consider switching to battery-powered forklifts, if much of the work is in poorly ventilated spaces. Unconsciousness and death may result from carbon monoxide overexposure as the concentration in the bloodstream rises, make sure you are taking the proper precautions necessary to ensure proper levels of clean air flow throughout your facility when using forklifts.

In many cases forklifts are an irreplaceable necessity to get products moved, loaded, and unloaded to its destination. Make sure you are taking the time to correctly navigate and reduce the risk of injury to yourself and others who are enroute.

 

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Forklift Safety Training: 7 Things You Need to Know Now

by Julianne Bass

Fact: an untrained operator is an unsafe operator.  This is especially true for forklift drivers. The forklift can be one of the most dangerous equipment in your workplace, with thousands of forklifts and powered truck-related injuries being reported each year in the United States alone.

To give you an idea of how dangerous they can be, a medium-sized forklift weighs about the same as an average-sized dump truck, and can cause as much damage and injury.

OSHA - Types of Powered Industrial Trucks

Forklift safety is essential for your workplace safety program to work.

The importance of forklift training cannot be stressed enough. Forklift operators who are not trained and certified are not only putting themselves at risk – but those working around them as well. Factors such as accidents, property damage, and insurance costs can bring about a negative impact to your workers and your bottom line as well. It is crucial that anyone who handles a forklift know how to recognize potential accidents and know how to avoid them.

Invest in forklift training and make sure your operators are OSHA-certified. Here are seven more important reasons why: (more…)

Heavy Lifting the Right Way: Ensure Forklift Safety in Your Workplace

by emedco

Forklifts are the modern work animals of the warehousing age. Without their iconic twin prongs, many modern industrial facilities would be incapable of functioning efficiently.

Forklift safety

Forklifts are useful, but only when they’re maintained and operated well.

Unfortunately, forklift accidents can be common when a fork lift or lift truck is not well-maintained or operated by an inadequately trained worker.

Don’t let your lift trucks be a problem, and ensure your facility’s forklift safety with three useful products.

(more…)

Four Forklift Safety Guidelines for Operators

by emedco

Using forklifts to handle and move materials around is necessary to keep your warehouse operations efficient. Given that forklifts are such highly useful equipment, their absence makes mechanical handling of materials in your warehouse unsatisfactory.

Caution Sign

Drive slowly and follow caution signs to avoid injuries to pedestrians.

However, forklifts are also often blamed for several operational mishaps that happen yearly, which lead to both financial and personal losses. Lack of warehouse safety supplies, untrained drivers, and erroneous forklift driving operations are three major causes of accidents and injuries in the warehouse.

Hence, it is always a must that you use dock safety products and follow proper procedures when driving forklifts. When it comes to actual operations, here are four important guidelines you must observe to avoid forklift-related accidents and injuries: (more…)

Every day forklift safety

by emedco

In almost every warehouse and plant you will find a forklift.  These mobile machines make every day activities possible and get the job done faster.  Although forklifts are necessary, they can also be dangerous.  Today’s blog focuses on forklift safety in an effort to keep employees safe and property damage-free.

Certification:

Ensure that all forklift operators have proper training that is up-to-date.  Once per year, ensure all new operators have complete training and more experienced drivers are refreshed.  Drivers must be trained on your company’s forklift operation policies as well as safety guidelines outline by the forklift’s manufacturer.

General purpose safety:

Double check: inspect brakes, steering, forks, warning devices, lights, and all other mechanics before each job. If there are any questions or concerns, tell a supervisor immediately.

Classify the job: be sure to plan ahead when hoisting hazardous materials or toxic substances. If additional training is needed to handle these materials, forklift drivers must complete all necessary programs.

Capacity: Know the capacity of the vehicle and do not overload it.

Carrying loads: Ensure loads are balanced between each fork, do not put more weight on one fork over the other. When lifting, lowering, or carrying, always keep the mast of the vehicle tilted back slightly and never forward. Avoid any jerking motions when lifting or lowering.

Drive safely: Establish and enforce warehouse speed limits and traffic patterns with signage and brightly colored marking tape.  Keep traffic areas free from clutter and obstacles.

Unloading: Tilt the elevated load forward only when it’s directly over the loading place.  Lower forks slowly.

More safety tips:

  • Always be aware of overhead clearance.
  • Avoid collisions by slowing your speed and watching for safety mirrors to see around corners.
  • Start and stop slowly.
  • Never travel with a raised load, keep forks as close to the floor as possible.
  • Stay away from the edges of inclines, ramps, and docks.

Provide thorough training and follow the above safety tips to keep employees and equipment safe every day.

-MS

Oops- your forklift bumped a corner! Protect corners, columns, and machinery

by emedco

Even the most experienced forklift driver may occasionally have an ‘oops’ moment. Protect your facility from damage with Concrete Column Padding – round or square, Rack Protectors, Column Protectors, Steel Machine Guards,  and Bollard Posts from Emedco.  These products absorb impact from forklifts or other vehicles to eliminate costly repairs to both your facility and the vehicles that have struck it. There will be no need to constantly repaint walls, columns, or racks from accidental “dings”. Steel Machine Guards create a strong barrier between forklift traffic and your valuable assets. Bollard Posts are placed near cylinders or flammables and can be filled with concrete for added stability. Column Protectors and Rack Protectors are UV-guarded to prevent fading so the clean, professional appearance of your facility remains intact. All of these easy fixes will end up saving you money in the long run, not to mention the resources need to constantly repaint and repair your property.  Your forklift drivers can have an ‘oops’ without you even knowing!