|  Click to View Your Cart  |  Login/Register

Adrian's Safety Solutions

Warehouse Safety and Cargo Control Products

sales@adrianssafetysolutions.com Contact Sales
1-866-423-3638 Call Us
or 1-865-229-8700
  • Home
  • Warehouse Safety Solutions
    • Rack Safety Products
    • Dealer Marketplace
    • Request a Sample
    • Product Instructions
    • Material Handling Safety Quiz
  • Bednet® Cargo Control
    • Products
    • Product Specs
    • Product Instructions
  • Freight Saver
  • Store
  • About
    • Events
    • Case Studies
    • Our Customers
      • Customer Photo Gallery
    • Product Brochures
    • Product Instructions
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Warehouse Safety Solutions
    • Rack Safety Products
    • Dealer Marketplace
    • Request a Sample
    • Product Instructions
    • Material Handling Safety Quiz
  • Bednet® Cargo Control
    • Products
    • Product Specs
    • Product Instructions
  • Freight Saver
  • Store
  • About
    • Events
    • Case Studies
    • Our Customers
      • Customer Photo Gallery
    • Product Brochures
    • Product Instructions
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
You are here: Home / 5. Events / National Safety Month / The Importance of Forklift Safety

The Importance of Forklift Safety

June 8, 2020 By Laura Gibson 3 Comments

The Importance of Forklift Safety As we celebrate National Forklift Safety Day, now in it’s eighth year, it’s important to remember that safe forklift practices are vital year-round. Since forklifts are heavy — weighing up to 9,000 pounds — and can be fast (traveling up to 18 mph!) they can become a hazard in the workplace to inventory, their operators, and pedestrians.

History of Industrial Lift Trucks

It’s hard to believe that the first real material handling equipment was invented 133 years ago in 1897! This equipment wasn’t what we see today, but merely iron axles and wheels, called a two-wheel hand truck. Before that, moving heavy objects even a short distance took an enormous amount of effort and manpower. Then, in 1906, the PA Railroad system found a way to put both vertical and horizontal lifting into one machine — the powered platform truck. Since then, the lift truck has evolved to become a relied-upon machine in the industrial workplace.

The Importance of Forklift Safety

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) notes that each year nearly 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 are seriously injured in forklift-related incidents. Forklift overturns are the leading cause of fatalities and represent about 25 percent of all forklift-related deaths, while foot injuries are the most prevalent of nonfatal incidents.

Forklifts are one of the most critical tools for the material handling professional in warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants. Moving large objects through an industrial space requires a trained and alert operator, floor tape, signage, and physical barriers to protect workers, equipment, and inventory. Your facility would have trouble operating without them, which is why it’s important to follow everyday forklift safety tips.

Up your safety further with other safeguards

Furthermore, modern technologies and equipment can take your forklift safety game to the next level. This is typically called “risk-reduction technology.” Devices such as proximity warning sensors, truck operation cameras, and weight load indicators assist operators with being safer. Training on any new technology is critical and is often offered by the supplier.

Even though you have trained and licensed forklift operators, you may also need guarding or barrier equipment for pallet racking such as rack safety netting or rack safety straps, which can help prevent accidents as well. Depending on your application, you may be trying to protect longitudinal flue space or prevent objects from falling out of bays onto walkways, work areas, or equipment. Most often when forklifts are involved, however, you are probably looking to prevent pallet push-through.

Helpful Forklift Safety Resources

We’ve put together some links for further information on how to keep your facility safe year-round when it comes to forklifts.

• OSHA – Powered Industrial Trucks – Forklifts
• EHS Daily Advisory – Latest Tips for Forklift Safety
• Cisco-Eagle – A Step-by-Step Safety Process for Forklifts and Pedestrians
• Grainger – Forklift Safety Training Guide
• National Safety Council – Forklift Training for Lift Truck Operators

If safe forklift practices weren’t high on your radar right already, hopefully this information helps energize you to have a larger discussion with your team. Of course, our team at Adrian’s is happy to help you determine what areas of your operation could use some additional safety measures. Request a free sample of one of our products today!

Filed Under: 1. Warehouse Safety, National Safety Month, Push-Through Prevention

Comments

  1. Henry Killingsworth says

    July 27, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    You made an interesting point when you explained that modern technology can take forklift safety to the next level. I would imagine that it would be important to inspect forklifts before using them so that accidents don’t occur. It seems like it would be a good idea to get some kind of diagnostic tool that can help with these inspections.

    Reply
    • Laura Owens says

      July 28, 2021 at 7:38 am

      Thank you for your comment!

      Reply
  2. Avi Cohen says

    December 6, 2022 at 5:01 am

    Great!!! Thanks for sharing this article about the importance of forklift safety.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Blog Categories

  • 1. Warehouse Safety (79)
    • Material Handling Dealers (7)
    • OSHA and Facility Safety (15)
    • Rack Safety (70)
      • Flue Space (21)
      • Pallet Rack Safety (42)
      • Push-Through Prevention (19)
      • Warehouse Rack Safety (53)
    • Warehouse/Distribution Center Fulfillment (4)
  • 2. Cargo Control (26)
    • Bednet® Products (7)
      • FreightSaver (3)
        • Cargo Claims (1)
      • Original Bednet® (1)
    • Fleet Safety (4)
    • Load Safety (14)
      • Falling Freight (1)
      • Road Debris (1)
      • Tie Down Webbing (1)
      • Unsecured Cargo (11)
      • Unsecured Load (7)
      • Utilities (1)
    • Vehicle Types (8)
      • Pickups (8)
      • Service Beds (1)
      • SUV (2)
      • Tractor Trailers (1)
      • Utility Body (2)
      • Vans (2)
    • Working Load Limit (WLL) (5)
      • Assessing WLL (2)
      • Tie-Down WLL (4)
  • 3. Case Study (9)
  • 4. Announcement (19)
    • Press Release (9)
  • 5. Events (9)
    • Modex (1)
    • National Safety Month (5)
    • Promat Show (3)

Adrian’s Safety Solutions

At Adrian’s Safety Solutions, our primary objective is to offer products that allow for a safer workplace environment at a reasonable price. Our three product lines include Adrian’s Warehouse Safety Solution, Bednet® Cargo Control Solutions, and Freight Saver Shipping & Driver Safety Solutions.

Quick Links

  • Product Specifications
  • WLL Comparison
  • FAQs
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • New Customer Setup
  • Contact

Contact Us

PH: (866) 423-3638
Local PH: (865) 229-8700
FAX: sales@adrianssafetysolutions.com

Request a Free Sample

©2023 Adrians Inc. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap

Custom Website Design and Development by VIEO Design