According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, nearly 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 are seriously injured in forklift-related incidents annually. Statistically, that means one of every ten forklifts in the US will be involved in an accident every year.
An OSHA study found 25% of forklift accidents are due to inadequate operator training, but what about the other 75%? In today’s article we’ll review the most common forklift accidents and how to prevent them through: proper training, safety equipment and proactive technology.
When a truck backs up to your receiving area, it’s unlikely the trailer will be at the exact same height as your loading dock. That gap between the trailer and your warehouse floor is a prime location for injury and equipment damage.
Dock levelers, also known as edge of dock levelers or pit levelers, bridge the gap (in height and distance) between the floor and the trailer for smooth and safe loading and unloading. Learn about the most popular types of dock levelers used in the Bay Area, Central and Northern California, so you can choose the best dock leveler for your facility.
A loading dock is a fast-paced and dangerous environment. Around 25% of all reported warehouse injuries occur on loading docks. Hundreds of near-misses precede each hazard. Forklift accidents cost employers an average of $48,000 per injury and $1,390,000 per death, according to the National Safety Council.
As a manager, putting safety first should be your top priority. In this article, we will cover four common and often overlooked signs of a hazardous loading dock.
Lower back pain, musculoskeletal and repetitive strain injuries are some of the most common reasons for absenteeism and workers comp claims. According to a report on OSHA’s website:
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the most widespread occupational health hazard facing our Nation today. Nearly two million workers suffer work-related musculoskeletal disorders every year, and about 600,000 lose time from work as a result. Although the median number of lost workdays associated with these incidents is seven days, the most severe injuries can put people out of work for months and even permanently disable them. In addition, $1 of every $3 spent on workers' compensation stems from insufficient ergonomic protection. The direct costs attributable to MSDs are $15 to $20 billion per year, with total annual costs reaching $45 to $54 billion.
In today’s post, we’ll uncover the most common injuries forklift operators experience, and how operators, facility managers, and fleet managers can prevent them.
...identifying existing or potential hazards in the workplace, and eliminating or controlling them. The frequency of these inspections depends on the operations involved, the magnitude of the hazards, the proficiency of employees, changes in equipment or work processes, and the history of workplace injuries and illnesses.
According to OSHA, the fatal injury rate for warehousing employees is higher than the national average for all industries. In today’s post, we’ll share our tips for conducting a warehouse safety audit - including the top hazards for warehouse workers and creating a warehouse safety checklist.
Ever wondered why there's a strap dragging on the ground underneath some forklifts? It’s an anti-static strap, also known as a ground strap.
Static electricity can be very harmful to a forklift. This may seem strange, but think about the circuit boards and computer chips that make up a modern lift truck. One good zap and your equipment could go brain dead. Forklift operators don’t like being shocked either!
It’s especially important to get a static strap for lift trucks with non-marking tires. Keep reading to find out how to correctly ground an electric forklift, or contact us to learn more.
The metal forks on your forklift may seem indestructible, but eventually they wear out just like any other machine part. In fact, 29% of all independently-inspected forks fail safety standards.
A quick once-over isn’t enough to determine if a fork needs to be replaced. For this reason, ANSI/ITSDF B-56.1 standards require forks be inspected at least once per year (for single shift operations). Similarly, OSHA requires all powered industrial trucks, including forks, be examined daily or after each shift if they are utilized 24/7.
Skipping your fork inspections can lead to a snapped fork, dropped load and an all-around bad day! Read on to learn how to prevent accidents before they happen.
Would you back out of a driveway without checking for obstacles behind you? Or fly with an airline where the flight crew used pre-flight checklists “most of the time”? Of course not!
Safety checklists may be about as fun as flossing, but they’re an important preventative measure to avoid injuries and fines. OSHA Regulation: 1910.178(q)(7) states:
Knowing when to retire a forklift can be a tough call. You don’t want to get rid of equipment that still has plenty of life in it. But a forklift that is slow or frequently in need of repair causes your business to be less productive and can frustrate staff.
You may have read online that the “right” time to replace your lift truck is when it’s reached the end of its economic life. But how do you determine when that is?
