forklift-safety Archives

Posts Tagged ‘forklift-safety’

4 Tips for Forklift Safety

by Andrew 05/30/2017

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:

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.
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.
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.
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 02/04/2016

“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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 01/20/2016

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?

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.