Safety Related Articles |
There are many benefits to training your forklift operators. In this article we highlight what we feel are the 4 main benefits to your organization of proper operator training. As managers and owners, we want a safe work environment for all of our employees. Unfortunately, all too often it escapes us. Time passes quickly, and initiatives that were once important standards become guidelines or even merely suggestions. How can we ensure that when we put safety measures in place, they will stay in place as employees come and go in a business climate that is constantly in flux? When it comes to forklift safety, a lot of emphasis is placed upon safe forklift operation; as it should be. What we see quite frequently, though, is a lack of training for employees working in a warehouse situation but who do not operate forklifts but merely work around them all day, every day. Working around them without knowledge pertaining to their potential hazards creates a dangerous scenario for catastrophe. When we think of OSHA and material handling, we all too often think simply of operator training. But the guidelines for keeping forklift operators and pedestrians safe extend far beyond the scope of training. However, before we address these areas of concern, let’s take a quick look at some of the lesser-known conditions for which operator training is required... Over 40 years ago OSHA was founded. Their goal was to make the workplace safer by setting standards that all companies must abide by. Fast forward to today and see the results this dynamic agency has had on worker safety. OSHA has revealed which categories topped their list of citations for 2019. See the list and where once again, forklifts landed on it. Tax deductions are still available on NEW and USED equipment, but it must be IN SERVICE by December 31, 2018. Learn more and get a quote on new or used forklifts or other material handling equipment and save on your 2018 tax bill. | There are vast differences in teaching someone something and training them to do it properly. Forklift operator training is no different. Here, we explore those differences and what they can mean to your material handling operation. Moving your employees along the continuum until they reach the final stage in learning/training to the point where someone asks "how do you do that?" and they respond "I don't know, I just do it." Loading docks can be very busy and dangerous places. There are many little things that can improve safety and productivity. This month, we focus on four major components of improving the safety of your pedestrians working on and around your docks and doors. While most of us won’t be able to attend, there are things we can do to take advantage of this day to help create awareness about the dangers that forklifts present and how to minimize the potential for accidents that can result in injury, death, damage to your facility or equipment, and financial losses. Training is one of the most important functions of any manager. From top to the bottom levels of an organization, employees that are well-trained to do their jobs perform them better, are more efficient and make greater contributions to the bottom line of the organization. Safety is one of the primary pillars of a productive and profitable material handling operation. Unfortunately, most small to mid-size companies to not have the resources for a safety and compliance manager, much less a safety department. OSHA has tools available to these companies, like yours, to help you not only gain compliance, but how to look at your operation with a “safety eye” and help you identify potential hazards before they become health, safety or legal issues. |
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Your forklift's forks and chains bear the brunt of the daily lifting. Damage and wear to either of these components can lead to a dangerous situation for your operator and those working around your lift trucks. Learn what to look for and how to identify potential problems. |