Lift Truck and Pedestrian Safety

                       A SAFETY TALK FOR

                      DISCUSSION LEADERS



This safety talk is designed for discussion leaders to use in preparing safety

meetings.



Set a specific time and date for your safety meeting.  Publicize your meeting

so everyone involved will be sure to attend.



Review this safety talk before the meeting and become familiar with its

content. Make notes about the points made in this talk that pertain to your

workplace.  You should be able to present the material in your own words and

lead the discussion without reading it.



Seating space is not absolutely necessary, but arrangements should be made so

that those attending can easily see and hear the presentation.



Collect whatever materials and props you will need ahead of time.  Try to use

equipment in your workplace to demonstrate your points.





                      DURING THE MEETING



Give the safety talk in your own words.  Use the printed talk merely as a

guide.



The purpose of a safety meeting is to initiate discussion of safety problems

and provide solutions to those problems.  Encourage employees to discuss

hazards or potential hazards the encounter on the job. Ask them to suggest ways

to improve safety in their area.



Don't let the meeting turn into a gripe session about unrelated topics.  As

discussion leader, its your job to make sure the topic is safety.  Discussing

other topics wastes time and can ruin the effectiveness of your safety meeting.



At the end of the meeting, ask employees to sign a sheet on the back of this

talk as a record that they attended the safety meeting.  Keep this talk on file

for your records.





Lift Truck and Pedestrian Safety



TJ07



Powered industrial equipment has played a major role in the surge of total

goods output annually. Forklifts nd hand trucks have eased the burden of moving

heavy, awkward loads enabling one employee to accomplish the back-breaking work

of several. Order-pickers are able to use storage space more effectively,

material can be stacked higher and still maintain a degree of safety, and aisle

space is no longer at premium.



The front-end loader has revolutionized the material handling aspects of

industries by negating the need for handling tons of material by a less

efficient manual means. Industrial application of powered industrial trucks has

progressed to the point of nearly total dependence on this equipment to

maintain current sales and profit levels.



Accompanying this tremendous increased dependency on powered industrial

equipment was an added potential for accidents and injuries in the workplace.

The relative frequency of accidents is low, but the potential remains.

Generally speaking, the affect of operation of powered industrial trucks is the

responsibility of two factions--the operators and the "pedestrians."



THE OPERATOR



As an operator, it is essential that you are familiar with the equipment you

operate. Poor maintenance and upkeep is responsible for some injuries, so these

items should be checked daily by the operator:



þ a full battery charge on electric trucks and fuel levels in LP, gas or diesel

equipment



þ all engine fluid levels and associated leaks



þ tires for cuts or defects



þ steering control



þ horn and reverse indicators all warning lights



þ brakes (including emergency) and clutch operation



þ all controls to make sure they are working properly



þ operator safety devices, overhead guards and fire extinguishers to ensure

that they are in place and functioning



þ unusual engine sounds or faulty operation



Note to Discussion Leader:



If possible, have a lift truck at the meeting, instead of a hand truck; or use

a powered hand truck.



If any of these items are defective or unsafe report them to your supervisor

immediately and remove the equipment from service until the repairs can be

made. This is one of the operator's primary responsibilities.



The hazards of operating equipment on the job are similar to those associated

with driving a car. Plant equipment is operated at lower speeds, but the weight

of the hand truck can be equal to that of a full-size sedan, a lift truck as

much as five or six times more and a front-end loader about 20 tons. So what is

gained in slower operating speeds is more than offset by the bulk of the

equipment. As professional drivers, you should always drive defensively by

accepting full responsibility for preventing accidents and injuries to yourself

and your co-workers.



There are five key elements of good defensive driving:



Knowledge  Make it your business to thoroughly understand the different kinds

of equipment you operate; be aware of the operating hazards and know the

appropriate methods for avoiding them.



Alertness--More accidents are attributed to inattention than to any other

cause. Keep your attention focused on your driving and avoid distractions in

the workplace. 



Foresight--Operator foresight can be improved by carefully checking each load

to make sure it's secure and considering your possible travel routes. When

sitations are potentially hazardous, check with your supervisor.



Judgment--The operator must have the ability to perceive a particular situation

and available alternatives based on knowledge, experience--and common sense.

Coupled with alertness, judgment plays a major role in avoiding accidents.



Skill--It can only be developed by learning to do things correctly every time.

Repetition of the actions results in good defensive driving habits, which are

required in order to maneuver in the plant's surroundings.



THE PEDESTRIAN



Lift trucks probably play only an indirect part in your job. Because your

exposure to trucks may be limited, there is a natural inclination to put them

out of your mind. But in analyzing the numerous collisions between workers and

machines each year, inattention and a disregard for moving equipment are major

contributing factors.



The routine involved in seeing the lift trucks as a matter of course may be 

partly responsible for accidents. But as a pedestrian, you must shoulder some

of the responsibility for the prevention of accidents and injuries.



The first step toward the harmonious existence of worker and machine is

familiarizing yourself with the various types of equipment and their regular

travel routes. During the course of the day the noises generated by plant

operations blend into a low-pitched hum. But by making a conscious effort to

distinguish the sounds of the various types of equipment, you'll be more alert

to the impending hazards. You'll also be able to increase your awareness of

moving vehicles; this will prevent you from stepping into the path of one of

these vehicles.



A second important item to remember is that pedestrians should yield the right

of way or make sure that the vehicle has yielded to them. Never assume that the

operator has seen you and recognized your intention to step into the truck

path.



A final area of pedestrian responsibility is making sure that the operator is

not distracted. Horseplay has no place in the work environment; this includes

jumping on a lift truck just for the ride.



Pedestrians play an important role in preventing industrial accidents and

injuries relating to equipment. If you see equipment being operated

thoughtlessly, endangering employees or property, report the mishandling to

your supervisor.



After all, your health and well-being, and your co-workers', is at stake.



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Text Version