The Color of Danger - Forklift Safety Video - Caterpillar

forklift trucks machines designed and built to move material efficiently and dependably you can color them safe equipment like this is safe the only thing that can make it otherwise is the way it's used how it's handled by the guy at the controls and you can say this for most forklift operators there are professionals they're proud of their skill on these machines proud of their ability to get the job done right they have good safety records most of them only now and then will you find the exception the one who takes chances the guy who is too busy to read his manual to learn the rule the guy who fails to follow instructions or takes a cab on the job or off he's the guy who forgets the color of danger red like blood the color that says watch it the color that warns mound of trouble ahead and whenever that warning is ignored disaster can strike it can strike on the street or on the job so most professional operators heed the warning sign they look for the color of danger but they realize also that not all hazards can be marked or lighted signs can't be everywhere that danger might appear under certain conditions and so they've learned to think ahead to sense trouble before it develops in a way they see the color of danger even when it isn't there for example ahead of this operator are a number of places at good sense with color red for danger places where the worst might happen if the operator were not alert let's say it again a truck like this will do its job safely provided it's properly used but misuse can reduce its built in margin of safety in many ways motor truck beyond its rated capacity and the steering is effective this may mean nothing more than a poorly negotiated turn and some expensive casting is broken nobody hurt not this time but faulty steering has been known to kill people but even was no load and perfect steering the careless operator can get himself in trouble this fella fails to lower his mass forgets he has to pass under an overhead obstruction in the form of a temporary scene line his thoughtlessness adds up to the color of danger professionals follow the basic rule always lower the mast will time when traveling from one point to another whither without a load keep the forks low if disability is a problem travel in reverse and they keep in mind this principle raising a load also raises a truck center of gravity when this happens it's time to take it easy a clumsy hand on the lift or tilt lever can start a chain reaction that leads to trouble there's nothing like a little jolt to drive a lesson home some unmarked hazards are so obvious that anyone should spot them where would you put the color of danger in this scene first of all that load is loose on the pallet and those railroad travelers will produce quite a bump at the speed he's going the best advice about crossing tracks is reduce speed can always cross them at an angle instead of head-on it's always condition read on a loading dock loose dock plates wheels not blocked slippery decks these can cause trouble an operator who doesn't see the color of Dien here before he drives into a trailer isn't likely to see it after Oh it's not a good idea to depend on others to see danger for you so always check the dock plate and make sure the wheels are chocked before you begin working a truck people who take things for granted are especially after mist the color of danger when it flashes this machine is in the shop to have the brakes repaired but the mechanic Harry Swartz gets called away before he can complete the job and he forgets to put a warning tag on the machine the operator Bob Brower is there at 9:20 Harry promised him his truck would be ready by 9:00 so it must be ready so why wait to see Harry or why for that matter take time to inspect the machine here's why he starts down an incline with no brakes there's a sharp turn at the bottom it's condition red all the way no they will take you over here and I'll let you sit down for a minute stop the truck a 12,000 pound truck crash-lands pretty hard that's why an operational check is important especially one has been in the shop for repairs but whether it's been in the shop or it's just the start of the shift the experienced operator makes sure his machine is ready to go he checks the hydraulic oil the clutch and the water he checks the engine oil looks at the tire and his instruments and he tests his brakes he reports a Fawley operation immediately he doesn't take a chance yes a professional takes pride in his machine and in the way does his job he not only knows his machine and its capabilities but he makes sure he knows the material he has to handle a real pro would never fail to take into account loosely secured containers and he'd used special care when working at this height several thousand can there's an awful mess to clean up these machines will move tremendous amounts of material but there's one thing they're not designed to do they're not meant to carry passengers if you want to really see the color of danger just offer some of your buddies a ride on your truck they'll remember your kindness for a long time here's another way to be remembered and not fondly park your truck and leave the forks raised after all how can anyone get hurt by a machine that's standing still this is a great way to cool a beautiful friendship of course there are times when it's a good idea to cool it emotional upsets can turn careful people into real Daredevils take the case of Joe Dexter a forklift operator on his way to work Joe is still burned up when he gets to the plant this morning he's too angry to use his head normally Joe wouldn't think of traveling with his Forks raised he knows the extra weight of mass carriage and forks on his truck combined with too much speed can spell trouble but he saw and in this state of mind he can't see the color of Maine so cool it before you start to drive I'm not a way to cool it but not particularly recommended you're working inside a warehouse that's on a dry surface there's plenty of traction for turning and braking but suppose you forget for a moment the possibility that the dock outside may be wet and slippery on the way out you pick up too much speed so when you hit the brakes where traction may be a problem reduce your speed or make sure you can swim of course an operator doesn't have all the responsibility for safety those working around forklift trucks should watch out for the rear-end swing especially in close quarters they should make certain the operator knows they're there otherwise the color of danger may be all too apparent some large lumber dealers handle millions of board feet each year to move that much lumber efficiently it requires a lot of material handling equipment but unless it's used safely there's not much efficiency example a heavy load carried too high for stability partially obstructed vision add too much speed a sharp and a sudden stopped and the result is down in this case no casualties another time who knows the point about the color of danger is anyone can see it after an accident the trick is to recognize it before loading a stack of drums three pallets hi is asking for trouble but that's only the start since the operator doesn't see the color of danger let's put it in for him some red on the barrel because three pallets hi they make an unstable load some red on the ramp always a danger spot and some red on his head because it isn't working he should have learned long ago that's the only way to get down an incline with the Lord is to back down but it's too late now careless operator an unstable load a sudden stop an explosive mixture they say accidents will happen and they're right they will happen as long as the man at the controls doesn't look for trouble ahead doesn't know and follow the rules they will happen to the man who misuses his looses machine forgets its capabilities and limits accidents will happen to the man who doesn't think who doesn't keep on the alert who doesn't watch for the color of danger you

Channel: Lazlo

Views: 69,595

Rating: 4.924612 out of 5

Keywords: The Color of Danger - Forklift Safety Video - Caterpillar

Id: sq5mklfDPrY

Length: 16min 37sec (997 seconds)

Published: Wed Jan 27 2016