Particular OSHA requirements have to be met so as to operate any kind of forklift. A lot of the companies using forklifts will offer basic training to the other sales and office employees along with visitors and other non operators who may venture into the distribution areas. Even if OSHA doesn't particularly deal with lift truck pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers should take measures so as to protect employees from some risks, like pedestrians exposed to moving lift trucks.
A huge problem which would need to be addressed is pedestrian safety. Based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH; about 20 percent of all forklift mishaps comprise a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means about 19,000 people on an annual basis.
Nonetheless briefly or frequently individuals are around industrial trucks in their work day, there are several basic steps that must be taken in order to keep everyone safe. Amongst the major considerations is that lift truck pedestrian mishaps often occur in cases where the pedestrian is ignorant of safety precautions. Issues also happen more often when the pedestrian ends up complacent because he or she has become used to frequent interaction with lift trucks.
So as to avoid putting yourself at possible risk of being struck by a lift truck, there are several common situations to look out for. Amongst the most common issues is when pedestrians did not see the lift truck. Lots of operations have different degrees of blind corners or intersections which pedestrians must be aware of. Sometimes pedestrians do not hear the forklift. Be really careful of the various types of power sources. For example, electric trucks may be much quieter as opposed to internal combustion engines that are really loud.
The other major issues are when pedestrians come in too near the equipment. Common sense tells us that in order for a pedestrian to be injured by a forklift, the pedestrian needs to be near to be struck. For a forklift that is working, a four foot safety zone is suggested in order to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This really helps to deal with risks like the unit driving accidentally over the foot of a pedestrian.
To make sure that the workplace safety remains paramount and stays top notch, the implementation and following of strict safety protocol is key.