Forklift Safety – A Year-Long Pursuit
June 8, 2021, officially marks National Forklift Safety Day, an event established by the Industrial Truck Association to promote safety, awareness, and the importance of proper training to the nearly 641,000 forklift operators across the United States, as well as their colleagues. Though the in-person event is virtual this year, there are still plenty of ways to observe the occasion and embrace the spirit in which it was established. The good news is, these are things that you can, and should, do all year. Some ways to observe National Forklift Safety Day year-round include:
Additional Training and Education
Plan some special classes and training to either refresh knowledge or introduce new concepts in forklift operation. Provide incentives to attend. Try to make it fun and rewarding! This will also help ensure their refresher training is current.
Pedestrian Safety Education
There’s a whole community of employees that operates near your forklifts, and training them is just as important as training your actual operators. Set aside a few hours to ensure everyone understands proper pedestrian safety while working near high-traffic forklift areas.
Refresh Forklift Maintenance Protocols
It’s never the wrong time to get a refresher on proper forklift maintenance. Over time, these processes may become rote, causing your staff to overlook certain vital elements. It’s essential to make sure that all of your maintenance is current. Use the day as an opportunity to review your service agreement and connect with your provider to ensure you’re up-to-date and your records are accurate. Ensure all the vehicles in your fleet pass inspection and take the ones that don’t pass out of rotation until appropriate repairs are made.
Does Your Training Go Far Enough?
Review your internal training protocols to ensure that they’re current and up to date. There may be some regulatory changes or best practices that you haven’t accounted for in your training. Do a periodic audit to make sure you’re covered.
Foresight for YOUR Site
Each facility has variables that will affect safe forklift operation, e.g., floor features, racking systems, general layout, square footage, etc. Make sure your staff is fully knowledgeable of the site-specific variables that can affect forklift operation and subsequent employee safety.
Check-In with Your Fleet
Periodic and regular inspection of your fleet of lift vehicles is a must. Make sure you’re checking them at appropriate intervals for everyday wear and tear after each shift, as well as conducting more in-depth inspections when warranted. Get and stay acquainted with each one of your vehicles, inside and out.
Make Every Day Forklift Safety Day
One of the easiest and most effective ways to celebrate Forklift Safety Day all year is by partnering with an experienced and reputable company to ensure thorough training, inspection, exemplary maintenance, and prompt and immediate repairs. Apex Material Handling offers a complete menu of forklift maintenance and repair services, as well as comprehensive service agreements to make the process more affordable and can keep your fleet running on all cylinders. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.