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:
Industrial trucks shall be examined before being placed in service, and shall not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle. Such examination shall be made at least daily. Where industrial trucks are used on a round-the-clock basis, they shall be examined after each shift. Defects, when found, shall be immediately reported and corrected.
Download Free OSHA Safety Checklists
If you don’t already use safety checklists, OSHA has an example on their website. It’s a good starting place, but ultimately the checklist should be tailored to your work environment. Invite employees to take ownership of workplace safety by giving input on items for the checklist. During the discussion, you may also uncover areas where your staff may benefit from additional training.
On the TMHNC resources page you can download free checklists developed by our materials handling team. Our checklists are available in English and Español and include:
- Electric Truck Daily Checklist
- Narrow Aisle Lift Truck Checklist
- Low Lift Pallet Truck Checklist
- Internal Combustion Lift Truck Checklist
In addition to daily checklists, periodically conduct safety training scenarios. Reading a list of rules and regulations is abstract and honestly a bit boring. By asking workers how they’d handle a worst-case scenario in their workplace, you’ll drive home the value of workplace safety in a fun and interesting way. Invite different members of your staff to create the scenarios to challenge their co-workers, and provide lunch or snacks to encourage participation.
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