Specific OSHA requirements need to be met in order to use any kind of lift truck. A lot of the companies using forklifts will provide basic training to the other sales and office employees in addition to visitors and other non operators who might venture into the distribution areas. Even if OSHA doesn't specifically address lift truck pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers must take measures in order to protect employees from some risks, like for example pedestrians exposed to lift trucks in motion.
A huge issue which will have to be dealt with is pedestrian safety. According to the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; about 20 percent of all forklift mishaps comprise a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means roughly 19,000 individuals every year.
So as to keep everyone safe, there are some basic steps that should be taken into account. This is regardless to how briefly or frequently people are around industrial trucks in their work day. Amongst the main considerations is that forklift pedestrian accidents normally happen in cases where the pedestrian is not aware of safety precautions. Problems also occur more frequently when the pedestrian ends up complacent because he or she has become used to frequent interaction with lift trucks.
In order to avoid putting yourself at potential risk of being struck by a forklift, there are several common situations to look out for. Amongst the most common problems is when pedestrians did not see the lift truck. Lots of operations have varying degrees of blind corners or intersections which pedestrians must know. At times pedestrians do not hear the forklift. Be careful of the different kinds of power sources. Like for instance, electric trucks may be much quieter as opposed to internal combustion engines which are really loud.
Coming in too near the equipment is another common issue for pedestrians. In order for a pedestrian to be injured by a forklift, common sense tells us that the pedestrian needs to be near to be struck. For a forklift which is working, a four foot safety zone is recommended so as to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This helps to address risks like for example the unit driving accidentally over the foot of a pedestrian.
Implementing and following strict safety protocol helps to make sure that the workplace safety remains paramount and stays top notch.