Stand-up Forklift Operators Must Be Aware of Forklift Under-ride –Their Lives Could Depend On It
Generally, the safety protocols for sit-down and stand-up forklifts are pretty similar, with one major exception. The open-back design common to a stand-up forklift can pose a deadly risk when traveling in reverse with the forks trailing and near storage racking. The risk is that the operator could accidentally back into the rack and become pinned in the operator compartment. This condition is known as forklift under-ride.
Over the past twenty years, at least 10 stand-up forklift operators have been killed and 3 severely injured by forklift under-ride. Educational awareness for operators, supervisors, and warehouse management will hopefully eliminate future harm. Let’s take a look at several steps your operation can take to mitigate this risk.
7 Steps to Prevent Forklift Under-ride
1.Look In The Direction Of Travel – The most important safety precaution in preventing forklift under-ride is to always look in the direction the forklift is traveling. This can not be emphasized strongly enough! Not only will it avoid under-ride, but it also prevents the forklift from hitting a rack, thereby damaging the rack and the product stored on it, or worse, causing products to tumble down on workers.
2.Adjust Rack Heights – If you have a fleet of open-back stand-up forklifts, it may be simpler to adjust the height of your racks so that they first encounter either the body of the forklift or the overhead guard should the operator inadvertently drive into them, thus protecting the operator from injury. NOTE: do not adjust rack shelves without first consulting a licensed racking systems engineer. See our blog on safe pallet rack reconfiguring.
3.Install A Rack Barrier – Install a floor barrier even with the face of the rack that will stop the forklift from under-riding.
4.Install A Post Guard on the Forklift – Manufacturer-supplied and aftermarket vertical post guards are available to protect the operator if the forklift is backed up into a rack. Ask your APEX Parts Rep for a recommendation.
5. Purchase Forklifts with Pre-installed Post Guards – As manufacturers are now aware of this issue, many are incorporating a rear guard post in the new stand-up forklift models.
6. Operator Training – All stand-up forklift operators should be appropriately trained and made aware of the hazards of forklift operation, including specific training for stand-up forklift operators. Apex offers on-site group training that fully complies with OSHA training regulations. This training is tailored to your workspace and how it’s set up for your particular forklift fleet.
7. Operator Fatigue – Almost all of the safety rules for operating a sit-down forklift also apply to stand-up forklifts. However, one safety rule stands out for stand-up forklift operators –fatigue. Standing in a forklift compartment for an eight-hour shift can be debilitating. Be sure to allow for breaks so that the operator can walk around, sit down or otherwise break up the monotony and fatigue of standing in one spot with your foot on the dead-man pedal for an extended period of time.
Use Similar Caution With Class III Rider Pallet Trucks
Operating a Class III rider pallet truck presents a lot of the same hazards as a stand-up forklift with one glaring exception–you can’t weld a guard on the back. There is no back. Here, the only solution is diligent awareness of your surroundings, especially if you’re operating the pallet jack in a narrow-aisle environment. Thorough operator training is a must to avoid under-ride and prevent operator injury.
Forklift Equipment, Training, & Service
When it comes to all things forklifts —operator training, parts & service, and buying, leasing, or renting new and used material handling equipment, you only need to make one call. Apex is the place to go in the Chicagoland area. The Apex team members are your trusted, knowledgeable material-handling experts for 20 years and counting. Call our team today for expert, personalized support.