Specific OSHA requirements have to be met so as to utilize any kind of forklift. Many of the companies utilizing lift trucks will provide basic training to the other sales and office employees in combination with visitors and other non operators who might venture into the distribution areas. Though OSHA doesn't particularly deal with forklift pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers must take measures in order to protect employees from some risks, such as pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
A huge problem that will need to be dealt with is pedestrian safety. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH; about 20% of all forklift accidents comprise a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic translates to approximately 19,000 individuals on an annual basis.
So as to keep everyone safe, there are some basic steps which should be taken into consideration. This is regardless to how briefly or frequently people are around industrial trucks in their work day. One of the main considerations is that forklift pedestrian accidents often happen in situations where the pedestrian is not aware of safety measures. Issues also happen more often when the pedestrian has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts and ends up complacent.
There are several common situations to look out for so as to avoid placing yourself at possible risk from being struck by a lift truck. Pedestrians not seeing the forklift is a common problem that needs to be dealt with. Many operations have varying degrees of blind corners or intersections which pedestrians need to know. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the lift truck. Be very careful of the various kinds of power sources. Like for instance, electric trucks could be a lot quieter compared to internal combustion engines which are really loud.
Coming in too close proximity of the equipment is another common issue for pedestrians. In order for a pedestrian to be injured by a forklift, common sense tells us that the pedestrian has to be near to be struck. For a forklift that is working, a four foot safety zone is recommended in order to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This really helps to address risks like for instance the unit accidentally driving over a pedestrian's foot.
To make sure that the workplace safety remains paramount and stays top notch, following and the implementation of strict safety protocol is important.