Forklift Safety & Certification Training Course

1. Forklift Safety & Certification Training Course Trainer:

2. Why is ‘Safety’ so important? • OSHA estimates forklifts cause roughly 85 fatal accidents per year. • 34,900 accidents result in serious injury. • 61,800 accidents are classified as non-serious. • According to the Industrial Truck Association, there are about 855,900 forklifts operating in the U.S. therefore, over 11% of all forklifts will be involved in some type of accident each year (assuming only one accident per forklift.) • 42.5% of fatalities occur in a fabrication setting. • 12.5% of fatalities occur in a wholesale trade setting.

3. Fatal Forklift Accident Causes.. • Crushed by vehicle tipping over 42% • Crushed between vehicle and a surface 25% • Crushed between two vehicles 11% • Struck or run over by a forklift 10% • Struck by falling material 8% • Fall from platform on the forks 4% Is important!

4. Preventing These Accidents • Studies show that many of these accidents could have been prevented by better training. • As OSHA and Ferguson Enterprises requires, drivers must be properly trained to do so. • The lesson learned is, operating a forklift without training is dangerous and can even be fatal to you or other associates working in the area.

5. Why We Train Continues… • Training can also prevent or reduce the severity of an accident related to the stability of a lift truck traveling with an elevated load. • Even if drivers ignore this rule, and the vehicle tips over, injuries are usually minor if they stay with the vehicle instead of jumping off.

6. Ten Lift Truck Accidents A Professional Driver Should Know How to Avoid.. • Co-Workers Hit by a lift truck. • Co-Workers Hit by a load. • Driver Hit by a Falling Object. • Co-Workers Hit by a Falling Object. • Hit by Mast. • Getting On or Off a Truck. • Collisions with Other Trucks or Vehicles. • Falling Off Loading Docks. • Hit by Objects While Driving. • Tip-Overs.

7. Your Participation… Is Highly Encouraged. If you can share actual forklift incidents that have occurred to help with impact of the training’s importance.

8. Ferguson Forklift Safety Video (15 min)

9. Forklift Engineering Principles

10. How A Forklift Works • Driving a forklift is different than driving a car.. • A forklift is much heavier than a car. • Average car weighs 3000 lbs. • Average forklift weighs 9,000 lbs. • A forklift is easier to tip over on a turn whether it is loaded or not. • A forklift is not as responsive as a car as it is turned by moving the rear wheels. • A forklift can be driven backwards or forwards equally well.

11. Forklift Engineering Principles Load Center Maximum Lift Capacity Stability Triangle Fulcrum Point

12. Forklift Engineering Principles • To understand the ‘Load Center’ and ‘Maximum Lift Capacity’ you need to find the lift’s ‘Data Plate’. • Information on the ‘Data Plate’ includes make, model, weight, maximum capacity and load center.

13. Forklift Engineering Principles continued… • Most forklifts are designed with a 24” load center. • A standard pallet is 48” x 48”; half of this measurement is your 24” load center. • The load center is determined by measuring from the heel of the forks out to the tips. • For example: It may state that at 24” load center you can safely pick up 5000 lbs. to the full extension of the mast, however, at a 36” load center you can only safely pick up 4000 lbs. at full extension. • For complete safety, make sure you check the capacity rating on your lift’s data plate.

14. What is the ‘Stability Triangle’? • This is an imaginary triangle. • The base of this triangle is the front wheel axle, which supports the bulk of the load. • The top of the triangle is the rear pivot pin on four-wheeled vehicles or the rear wheel on three-wheeled vehicles.

15. Fulcrum Point • The front wheels of a lift serve as the Fulcrum Point between the weight of the truck and the weight of the load being carried. • If the weight of the load is equal to the weight of the truck, with equal distances between the centers of gravity, it is possible to ‘seesaw’ a lift truck on its front wheels.

16. If we rearrange the load so that the load’s center of gravity is farther away from the fulcrum point, this will cause the Center of Gravity for both the truck and the load to shift beyond the front wheels of the truck, the truck will tip forward.

17. If, on the other hand, we arrange the load so that the load’s center of gravity is closer to the fulcrum point, this will cause the center of gravity for both the truck and the load to shift behind the front wheels of the truck. With this arrangement there is no danger of the truck tipping forward.

18. Pre-Shift Inspection • Prior to each shift, the operator must conduct a documented inspection of the lift to ensure that it is in proper working order.

19. Remember… • Never come into contact with fuels or battery acids of your forklift or picker. • Always wear personal protective equipment.

20. Operator’s Daily Checklist(Page 1)

21. Operator’s Daily Checklist (page 2)

22. The following items must be checked prior to each shift for damage and proper operation. • Overhead guard • Seat & Seat belt • Fuel System • Tires • Hydraulic System • Mast • Lift Chains/Carriage • Forks

23. Remember… • Do NOT operate the lift and notify your supervisor if problems are discovered so that the lift can be repaired as soon as possible. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX ANY PROBLEM YOURSELF!

24. You Must Follow These Basic Safety Rules.. • Before starting your shift, conduct your pre-shift inspection. • Become familiar with the controls and instruments before operating. • Always buckle your seat belt when operating the truck. • Only operate your truck in authorized areas. • Never allow co-workers to “hitch” a ride on your truck. • Never allow anyone to stand on the forks unless they are within an approved platform. • Always give pedestrians “Right of Way”. • Use your truck as designed. Do not “makeshift” or modify the vehicle for tasks it was not designed.

25. Basic Safety Rules Continued.. • Only raise, lower or adjust your load when in a stopped position; never while moving. • Keep your arms and legs inside the driver’s compartment when truck is in operation. • Slow down and sound your horn at “Blind” intersections and corners. • Always operate the truck at a safe speed or below the speed limit established by your company. • If your load obstructs your view, drive in reverse. • Never turn the truck when on a ramp or sloped surface. • Never allow co-workers to stand or walk under raised forks at any time. • If you hear or notice anything unusual about the operation of your truck, stop the vehicle and report the problem to your supervisor.