Start With Safety Every Day

Most up-to-date businesses that use forklifts and other equipment are managed by people who are aware of how important safety is to owners and employees alike. And yet, forklift fatalities and accidents not only continue to happen, but have seen an increase over the last 10 years. In 2019, OSHA reported 79 deaths and more than 8,000 injuries due to forklifts. Granted, there are more forklifts and more people operating them, but with workplace safety being spotlighted all day every day, what can possibly be at the root of these numbers? 

Each year in June, the International Truck Association sponsors National Forklift Safety Day. Scheduled for June 8 this year, the event will be virtual due to Covid-19 concerns but will still be filled with valuable information for every person involved in forklift operations. At Southwest Materials Handling Co., our first priority for our own company - and that of our customers - is safety first each and every day. To learn more about this year's speakers and informative topics, visit National Forklift Safety Day - Industrial Truck Association

OSHA classifies forklifts as industrial trucks. Included in that category are pickers and platforms, so forklift safety encompasses measures that should be taken for all types of material handling equipment. Every year, statistics are released that paint a grim picture when it comes to forklift accidents and fatalities in workplaces. A lack of training neglected safety protocols and unsafe equipment handling can be blamed for many of these events.

There are many great ways decision makers can make sure everyone is invested in safety. Allowing employees to report observed unsafe practices anonymously, giving employees permission to call out unsafe behavior, mandated equipment checklists, regular safety meetings and "toolbox talks" are all ways to engage workers and promote safety. 

Equipment Safety Training 

Although OSHA only classifies 25 percent of forklift accidents and fatalities as due to a lack of training, it could be said that other causes that include events such as forklift overturns can also be chalked up to a lack of training. An unskilled and/or inexperienced operator can cause a lot of damage.

Under the category of industrial trucks, which includes forklifts, pickers and platforms, OSHA calls moving accidents as the biggest violator. These include incidents involving pedestrians and the forklifts and forklift operators themselves.

Proper training for forklift operators is required by law. OSHA mandates what constitutes proper training and it consists of the correct classroom and OJT hours, certification by an administrator, regular operator checkups and retraining when an operator needs it due to unsafe operations or an incident.

Making sure your operators are correctly trained and certified will help you in several ways:

• If there is an incident, you won't be unnecessarily dinged for not correctly training your operators
• Having properly trained operators and less incidents will help with insurance costs
• Employees appreciate learning these skills
• Morale goes up when employees know you care about them
• Employees tend to treat equipment better when they've been trained to use it properly

At Southwest Materials Handling, we firmly believe in safety first and safety every day. 

Initiating Proper Safety Elements

Utilizing the correct safety elements in your material handling warehouse or distribution center can go a long way to help workers and others maintain a safe atmosphere at all times. Because forklift operations are considered one of the more dangerous activities in a warehouse setting, OSHA has plenty of recommendations for forklift safety, including:

• Never exceed 5 mph
• Slow down in congested areas
• Never back up to a dock edge
• Follow procedures for picking up and putting down loads
• Wear a seatbelt
• And much more

You can find an OSHA pocket guide on warehouse safety at this link. At Southwest Materials Handling Co., we offer a catalogue with safety items to help make your warehouse or distribution center safer, including aisle marking tape, floor tape, mirrors, railings, barriers and more. Don't forget the all-important equipment checklist which should be used before every shift. Mandating that employees use a forklift checklist before every use not only helps to point out unsafe features on the equipment itself, but lets your employees know that you are serious about safety and about protecting your equipment investment. 

Let Technology Help

Today's forklifts are vastly different from earlier models. Words that were never heard before in relation to material handling warehouses and distribution centers now flow easily around the industry: Words such as telematics, automation, optimization, integration and ergonomics. What does it all mean for you and the safety of your employees?

Today's technological innovations and new ways of thinking about warehousing emphasize not only increased productivity and efficiency, but also safety. Are you employing or thinking about incorporating some of these new technologies into your operations?

Ergonomics

We've learned some lessons over the years about fatigue and its effect on workers. When workers are fatigued, they make mistakes. Mistakes lead to accidents, so it's in everybody's best interest to learn ways to improve worker safety with enhanced ergonomics built into today's equipment. More comfort, better optics and safer standards can cut down on - or eliminate - incidents.

Automation

Many of today's repetitive tasks can now be automated, freeing up employees to handle the more complicated areas of warehousing. When employees are engaged and performing important jobs, they tend to stay more aware - helping increase safety and reduce product damage.

Telematics

With today's enhanced telematics, decision makers have a finger on the pulse of everything that's happening in and around the warehouse. Most forklifts and other equipment with telematics are capable of sending up-to-date reports to your phone or computer. No need to guess anymore about who is operating safely.

Safety First - Every Day

We aren't kidding when we say our main priority is the safety of our operations - and yours! You can purchase from our catalogue to make your warehouse a safer place and professionals who can help you decide how to make the best use of today's technology. At Southwest Materials Handling Co., we are observing National Forklift Safety Day on June 8 and invite you to make decisions now to ensure that everyone goes home healthy. Contact us today to learn more!