Many of us have seen pictures like this regarding how NOT to use a forklift.   Today forklift or Powdered Industrial Trucks (OSHA 1910.178) is number 6 on the most fined violations of OSHA’s Top Ten list.

About a year ago I posted the Forklift Quiz and answers.  The OSHA training requirements incorporate safe operation, training program implementation, training program content, refresher training and evaluation, avoidance of duplicate training, and certification.  Trainees must be initially trained in the following truck-related and workplace-related topics:

TRUCK-RELATED

• Operating instructions, warnings and precautions for type of truck
• Similarities and differences to automobiles
• Control and instrumentation location and use
• Engine or motor operation
• Steering and maneuvering
• Visibility
• Fork and attachment limitations and use
• Vehicle capacity
• Vehicle stability
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance refueling or charging batteries
• Operating limitations
• Other operating instructions, warnings or precautions listed in the operator’s manual

WORKPLACE-RELATED

• Surface conditions where truck is used
• Load composition and stability
• Load stacking, unstacking and transport
• Pedestrian traffic
• Narrow aisle and restricted area operation
• Operation in hazardous locations
• Ramp and sloped surface operation
• Unique or potentially hazardous conditions
• Operating the vehicle in closed environments

Because powered industrial trucks are manufactured by different companies with various models available, the training must be specific to the operating characteristics of the specific powered industrial truck the employee will be using.

I was recently shopping at my local garden center and was watching the forklift operator move skids of soil and mulch.  The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, and had little regard for the shoppers or other employees his was operating the forklift near.  Twice he almost hit another employee with a skid load of soil.  Either the training was not complete or the safety person needed to become more aware of this conduct.  Either way it was an incident waiting to happen.