The Do's and Don'ts of Operating a Forklift

Forklifts offer a fast and efficient way for companies to transport and maneuver loads in the workplace. Their lever-arm design can easily raise, lower and transport pallets and other heavy objects that are too much for employees to physically handle themselves. However, tens of thousands of workers are injured each year from accidents involving forklifts. Some of these injuries occur from workers being directly struck by a forklift, while others occur from items being dropped or knocked down on top of the worker. In this post, we're going to reveal some of the do's and don'ts of operating a forklift.

Don't: Drive Loads Over People

I'm sure this is common sense to most experienced forklift operators, but it's still worth noting: you should never drive a forklift load over a pedestrian. If the load happens to fall, it could seriously injury anyone who's standing or sitting underneath. When you're driving a forklift, go around any and all pedestrians. And contrary to what some operators may believe, pedestrians have the right of way.

Don't: Drive With The Forks Up

Unless you are transporting a load, you should only drive a forklift with the forks down. It's not uncommon for drivers to accidentally bump other vehicles or objects when the forks are up, creating a whole new set of dangers for pedestrians and other employees nearby. To prevent this from happening, try to get into the habit of only driving your forklift with the forks up.

Do: Give Yourself Room To Stop

As Newton's law states -- an object in motion stays in motion -- holds true when driving a forklift. Assuming you are driving at 10 mph, you'll need roughly 22 feet to come to a complete stop, and this is on a dry surface. If you're driving a forklift outside on a wet, slick pavement, you'll need even more room to stop. Until you learn the stopping physics of your forklift, drive slow and give yourself plenty of time and room to stop.

Do: Drive Uphill With Load First

Another important safety tip to remember when operating a forklift is to drive it uphills with your load facing towards the hill. Trying to drive uphill in reverse (load facing downhill) throws off your center of balance, increasing the chance of an overturn. Whether you're carrying a light or heavy load, transport it in a forklift with the load facing the hill.