Particular OSHA requirements have to be met so as to use any kind of forklift. Many of the companies using lift trucks will offer basic training to the other sales and office employees along with visitors and other non operators who might venture into the distribution areas. Though OSHA doesn't specifically deal with lift truck pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers should take measures so as to protect employees from certain dangers, like pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
Pedestrian safety is a big problem which needs to be dealt with and not overlooked. Based on the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; around 20 percent of all forklift accidents consist of a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic translates to approximately 19,000 people on a yearly basis.
Nonetheless briefly or frequently individuals are around industrial trucks in their work day, there are several basic steps which should be taken in order to keep everyone safe. One of the main considerations is that lift truck pedestrian accidents normally happen in cases where the pedestrian is not aware of safety precautions. Issues also occur more often when the pedestrian has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts and ends up complacent.
There are some common situations to look out for in order to prevent placing yourself at possible risk from being struck by a forklift. Pedestrians not seeing the lift truck is a common problem which needs to be dealt with. Many operations have different degrees of blind corners or intersections which pedestrians need to be aware of. At times pedestrians do not hear the lift truck. Be careful of the different types of power sources. For instance, electric trucks can be a lot quieter than IC engines which are super loud.
The other major problems are when pedestrians come in too close proximity of the machine. Common sense tells us that in order for a pedestrian to be injured by a lift truck, the pedestrian has to be near to be struck. For a lift truck which is running, a four foot safety zone is recommended in order to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This really helps to address risks such as the model driving accidentally over a pedestrian's foot.
Following and implementing strict safety protocol helps to make certain that the workplace safety remains paramount and stays top notch.