Forklift Safety Video - OSHA Training for Forklift Operators

[Music] [Music] moving materials around the workplace quickly and efficiently takes a lot of skill and it's a big responsibility your primary tool for the job is a specialized piece of materials handling equipment that OSHA calls a powered industrial truck this category includes vehicles such as the tractors that pull luggage carts at airports and a heavy-duty boom lifts used on construction sites but the industrial counterbalance lifts truck is the most common type of powered industrial truck what most of us call a forklift while forklifts make our jobs a lot easier they can also be very dangerous more than 100 workers are killed and thousands severely injured in forklift accidents every year the people who get hurt include both pedestrians and forklift operators themselves in addition to the human cost there's also the damage these accidents do to materials facilities and the forklifts you and a forklift can make a productive team but to do that you need to understand the machines limitations and how to operate it safely [Music] contrary to what many people think driving a forklift is not like driving a car forklifts have different controls they are heavier than cars they steer with their rear wheels and they are naturally unstable forklifts are designed to raise transport and lower heavy loads because of the counterweight it carries to balance these loads a forklift can weight twice as much as an automobile forklifts have also been designed to get in and out of tight places easily so they have a very narrow wheelbase this all means that forklifts handle in a very unique way and when they are mishandled they can be dangerous most forklifts have the forks at the front and the counterweight at the back which puts the machines centre of gravity somewhere in the middle in terms of stability the vehicle acts like a seesaw when you put a load on the forks you add its weight to the forklift and shift the forklift center of gravity forward if the load on the forks weighs less than the Machine the center of gravity will be behind the front wheels and the forklift will still be stable if the load and the truck weigh the same the center of gravity will be on the front wheels this means the forklift could easily become unstable if you had to stop quickly for example also when the centre of gravity is so far forward the rear wheels that do the steering have very little traction if they skid you could lose control of the truck if the load on the forks weighs more than the counterweight the center of gravity shifts to in front of the front wheels the back wheels come off the ground and the forklift tips forward this all sounds kind of complicated so let's look a little closer draw an imaginary line connecting the two front wheels and the pivot point of the rear axle this is what's called the stability triangle it's a map of a forklift suspension to keep the forklift stable its center of gravity must stay within the stability triangle sounds easy but remember that the forklift center of gravity can move depending on how you drive it and how you load it the closer you keep the center of gravity to the middle of the stability triangle the more stable a forklift will be that's how you keep it safely upright [Music] driving a forklift safely begins before you even climb onto the machine it starts with you asking yourself if you're ready to drive if your back is giving you trouble you're angry about an argument you had with a co-worker you're taking medication for a head cold or had a drink at lunch be careful anything that could distract you from operating a forklift safely should give you second thoughts about getting into the driver's seat in the first place and you should never drive a forklift if you may be under the effect of drugs or alcohol always be sure to buckle up before you turn the key before you drive look around to make sure the way is clear follow the normal rules of the road keep to the right give pedestrians the right-of-way always spaced in the direction you're traveling keep your arms and legs inside the cab keep the forklift under control at all times jerky and erratic driving can cause accidents never engage in horseplay behind the wheel with or without a load you should always drive with a force lower to between four and six inches off the ground with the mast tilted back don't drive any faster than a normal walking speed about five miles per hour this helps to keep the forklift stable and gives you more time to respond to what's going on around you it also makes it easier to come to a safe stop when making a turn remember that the forklift center of gravity will shift to the outside of the turn to maintain stability brake carefully to slow down gradually come to a complete stop before changing directions then proceed slowly through the turn turn the steering wheel in a slow smooth sweeping motion never make a turn with the forks raised more than four to six inches off the ground keep an eye on the surfaces you're traveling on grease water and other liquids will make any of em more slippery even dry materials like sand gravel or trash can cause a forklift to skid take care to keep some space between your trucks wheels and the edges of ramps elevated platforms and loading docks running even one wheel off the side could easily tip the forklift over accidents can happen even to careful operators so you need to know what to do in case your forklift tips over remember do not try to jump out of the forklift studies show that will probably get you killed instead brace your feet grab on to the steering wheel and pull yourself tight up against it lean in the opposite direction from the way the vehicle is tipping and hang on when your shift is over or anytime you're going to leave a forklift on its ended be sure to secure it lower the forks to the ground set the parking brake turn off the motor take the keys with you if you have to park on an incline shock the wheels to make sure the forklift stays right where you left it [Music] keeping a forklift center-of-gravity within the stability triangle is important and how the mast and forks are positioned can affect a stability significantly raising a payload or even just the forks raises the trucks center of gravity - and the higher you raise its center of gravity the more unstable a forklift becomes every forklift has a maximum weight it can lift known as its load capacity you need to know this weight limit so you don't overload the lift the load capacity will also indicate how far back on the forks a load center of gravity should be for the truck to lift the load safely this distance from the vertical part of the forks or the backrest to the load center of gravity is known as the load Center the standard load Center for most forklifts is 24 inches half the depth of a pallet but many loads can be non-standard and can come in different shapes and sizes with different load centers so while a forklift may be rated to safely lift 4,000 pounds in a 24 inch load Center if you pick up a 4,000 pound load that has a 36 inch load Center it will shift the forklift center of gravity further to the front and cause it to tip forward so you may have to rearrange the materials on a pallet or the forks to get the correct load Center be sure to adjust the width of the forks to give a load even support as well wider is usually better any low that has been badly stacked or that has a damaged pallet is naturally unstable regardless of how you support it which can make your forklift unstable as well so you should have it restocked on a new pallet to prevent trouble to engage a load on the floor or on top of a stack make sure to position the forklift squarely with the pallet drive forward slowly sliding the forks into the pallet until it touches the vertical portion of the forks or the crest the length of the forks should be 2/3 the length of the load at a minimum Center the loads side-to-side whenever possible raise the load only as much as you need to use only enough backward tilt to stabilize it before you move off lower the forks to between 4 and 6 inches off the ground if the load obstructs your forward vision operate the forklift in Reverse with the load trailing so you have a clearer view in the direction you're traveling always check your overhead clearance when your forklift is in motion as well as when you raise and lower the mast obstructions like lights sprinkler systems pipes and low doorways can be damaged if you hit them and could cause a tip over as well remember that the metal mast and Forte's will conduct electricity so keep them at least 10 feet from any electrical wires or equipment a forklift can be very convenient for raising co-workers up high when they need to perform maintenance or other tasks off the ground but only if you do it safely never lift someone who's standing on the bare forks or on a pallet to lift people safely you need to use an aerial platform or cage make sure the platform is firmly against the vertical part of the forks for the backrest then secure it with a safety chain never move a forklift with a platform elevated or with someone on it always stay with the truck when the platform is raised don't let anyone walk under the platform and never let anyone climb the mast [Music] a busy workplace presents a lot of challenges for a forklift operator with so much going on and so many people on the move you have to stay alert and be sure to follow safe work practices your vision will naturally be limited at intersections doorways and elevators and these locations typically have a lot of vehicle and foot traffic so watch carefully for pedestrians and other vehicles in these areas sound the horn to let people know you're approaching come to a complete stop before changing direction look both ways before moving off again don't assume that pedestrians will see you always check for them before you move your forklift watch out for them when you're in motion make eye contact with them to verify that they're aware of you when in doubt give pedestrians the right-of-way since they may not understand forklifts potential hazards it's up to you to remind pedestrians to keep their distance even when the lift is stopped never drive your forklift up to a pedestrian who is standing in front of a bench wall or other fixed object don't let anyone walk under raised Forks whether they're loaded or not don't let co-workers ride on your forklift either and never let anyone ride on the load stay at least three links behind other forklifts that are traveling in the same direction do not pass them in intersections or similar locations if you have to operate a forklift on ramps slopes or grades pay special attention because they can be tricky the rules are different depending on whether the lift you're driving is loaded or unloaded for instance if you drive a loaded forklift forward down an incline the load is likely to slide off the forks that's why you should always keep the forks of a loaded forklift pointed up any grade that means driving in Reverse on the way down around and going forward on the way up when you're going up there you have a co-worker's spot for you if the load you're carrying blocks your view with an unloaded forklift keep the forks pointed down the grain drive forward going down the incline and backward going up this helps the vehicles drive wheels maintain traction and prevents kids always proceed slowly and travel straight up and down an incline don't turn or try to travel across one the truck will become dangerously unstable and is very likely to tip over sideways trucks trailers and rail cars often carry materials that forklifts are called upon to handle but they also have some safety issues you need to pay attention to to prevent them from moving unexpectedly check that these vehicles have their brakes applied and their wheels chocked before you drive onto them take a good look at their floors - if they can't support the weight of your forklift and its load you could fall right through them whether you're loading or unloading always use a dock plate to bridge the gap between trucks or rail cars and the loading dock make sure that plates in good condition and secured firmly in place verify and it's rated to handle the weight of your forklift plus the weight of the load it will be carrying drive across the dock plates slowly and carefully [Music] like any machine a forklift needs to be in good shape to operate safely you can help by giving it a thorough inspection every time you use it begin your inspection with a visual walk-around look for obvious damage missing parts or fuel or oil leaks if the forklift has an internal combustion engine check the fuel the oil levels in the crankcase and transmission and the coolant for an electric forklift you should inspect the electrolyte levels in the battery electrolyte also referred to as battery acid is corrosive so be sure you put on personal protective equipment eye protection face shields and rubber gloves before checking or refilling it examine the battery terminals for corrosion or loose connections as well inspect the condition of the tires of any forklift you're using look for damage and remove any foreign objects that may have gotten stuck in them verify that the steering works and moves freely check the brakes to including the parking brake examine the chain bearings nuts and Cotters on the mast and lubricate them as needed make sure there's enough oil in the hydraulics reservoir look for evidence of leaks examine the forks for cracks or excessive wear and check their alignment ensure that headlights taillights turn signals and warning flashers all function correctly test the horse the back of the lar and the warning beacon verify that there are seatbelts and that they work if you find anything that isn't right repair it or report it take the forklift out of service if necessary but never start your shift using a faulty lift [Music] you perform another important form of forklift maintenance when you refuel or recharge the vehicle the procedures you should follow will vary depending on which type of forklift you're operating to refuel a forklift that runs on compressed gas like propane you'll need to install a new gas cylinder for a forklift that uses gasoline or diesel fuels you will be refilling its tank and for one with an electric motor you'll be recharging its battery all of these procedures share one critical safety issue the risk of fire and explosion gasoline diesel fuel and gases like propane are all flammable but recharging an electric forklift can also be a fire risk because the charging process can cause its battery to generate hydrogen gas which is also flammable that's why all refueling and recharging areas must be well ventilated so that any fumes can disperse safely there should be no open flames electrical sparks or other ignition sources nearby and smoking is never allowed in these areas and always switch off engines and motors before you begin refueling or recharging now let's take a closer look at how to refuel a forklift that runs on a compressed gas there are some issues with these lifts that you may not be used to simply shutting off this type of forklift can leave flammable residues in its fuel lines to prevent this close the shutoff valve on the fuel tank while the engine is still running then let it run until it uses up the gas in the lines and stalls strangely enough compressed gases even flammable ones can cause frostbite so remember to wear protective gloves while working with them handle the tanks carefully do not use metal tools when disconnecting and reconnecting them always watch for signs of gas leaks in the system when you put the new tank in place make sure that it engages the locking pin on the forklift refueling a forklift that runs on gasoline or diesel fuel is fairly straightforward it's pretty much like filling up the gas tank in a car for added safety touch the nozzle of the hose to the trucks fill pipe before you start transferring fuel if you spill any wipe it up and wait for the residue to evaporate before you restart the engine ask for electric forklifts we've mentioned that recharging their batteries can generate flammable hydrogen gas the fact that their batteries can generate sparks as well makes the process even more dangerous to prevent sparks keep tools and other metal objects away from the battery remember this also includes jewelry and wristwatches the charging process can also cause the batteries to heat up so leave the battery compartment lid open to help cool them off this will also allow any hydrogen gas to dissipate safely [Music] you and your forklift can get a lot of work done together but you have to be able to operate it safely let's review a forklift is a specialized piece of equipment and it has special handling requirements know how to keep a forklift stable under different operating conditions inspect your forklift before every use know how to refuel or recharge it safely make sure you can see clearly when operating your forklift even if it means driving in Reverse stay alert for pedestrians and other vehicles use caution in high-traffic areas operating a forklift in a busy workplace is a big responsibility and it can be a challenge but now that you know how the machine works and how to deal with its limitations you're ready to get the job done safely every day [Music] you

Channel: SafetyVideos.com

Views: 453,857

Rating: 4.850163 out of 5

Keywords: forklift safety video, forklift training video, osha forklift training video

Id: fPhynD2yuBE

Length: 22min 41sec (1361 seconds)

Published: Tue Sep 17 2019