In order to utilize any kind of forklift, specific OSHA requirements need to be met. Several companies provide basic awareness training to other individuals like visitors and office employees or sales people and other non-operators who might venture into the warehouse or yard. Though OSHA doesn't particularly deal with lift truck pedestrian training, the OSHA General Duty Clause dictates that employers must take measures so as to protect employees from certain dangers, like for example pedestrians exposed to moving lift trucks.
A big concern which would have to be addressed is pedestrian safety. Based on the NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; about 20% of all forklift accidents consist of a pedestrian being struck by a forklift. This statistic means roughly 19,000 individuals every year.
However briefly or frequently individuals are around industrial trucks in their work day, there are some basic steps which must be taken so as to keep everyone safe. Among the main factors is that lift truck pedestrian accidents usually occur in situations where the pedestrian is ignorant of safety precautions. Issues also occur more frequently when the pedestrian has become used to frequent interaction with forklifts and ends up complacent.
There are several common situations to look out for so as to avoid placing yourself at possible risk from being struck by a forklift. Pedestrians not seeing the lift truck is a common problem which needs to be dealt with. Many operations have different degrees of blind corners or intersections which pedestrians must know. At times pedestrians do not hear the forklift. Be really careful of the different kinds of power sources. For example, electric trucks can be a lot quieter than IC engines that are super loud.
The other main issues are when pedestrians come in too near the machinery. Common sense tells us that in order for a pedestrian to be injured by a lift truck, the pedestrian has to be in close enough proximity to be struck. For a lift truck which is running, a four foot safety zone is suggested in order to make a safe perimeter for everyone. This really helps to address risks like the model accidentally driving over the foot of a pedestrian.
Following and implementing strict safety protocol helps to make sure that the workplace safety stays top notch and remains paramount.