Things

1
Things

• Everyone Should Know About Forklift Safety

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Things Everyone Should Know About Forklift Safety
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• 1. You're Only as Strong as Your Weakest Link
• 2. Anyone Can Be A Target.
• 3. Once Your Forklift Safety Plan is Done, it
  Stays Done.
• 4. How Protected Is Your Company.
• 5. There is Help.

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You are Only as Strong as your Weakest Link
1

• The challenge in establishing a work place
  forklift safety plan is finding the time to do
  the research and figure out what's right for your
  company, your operators and your budget. The
  problem quickly becomes obvious you may be doing
  everything right but what about Federal OSHA,
  Department of Labor standards and State
  requirements?

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Anyone Can be a Target
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• OSHA is back in the enforcement business. Labor
  Secretary Hilda L. Solis has said
• "There's a new sheriff in town" and "Workplace
  safety is more than a slogan. It's the law"
• The Department of Labor which oversees OSHA has
  made it crystal clear that
• "The Bush administration days of lax enforcement
  are over."
• Inspections will become more frequent.
• OSHA proposed fines of 87 million - 4 times
  greater than any previous sanction against an
  employer.

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Once your Safety Plan is Done, it Stays Done
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• A company forklift safety policy is a plan that
  once it's done it lays out a road map for you to
  follow any time
• You hire someone new
• There are safety concerns at your facility
• Remain in compliance with updates
• It simply lays a foundation for ongoing forklift
  safety policies and procedures. It's much easier
  than you might think.

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How Protected Is Your Company
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• Like most of small businesses in America the
  chances are that some of your employees are
  either family, or get treated like family. Who
  is going to play short stop at the next company
  picnic? If there is an accident that could have
  easily been avoided by simple training and a
  solid forklift safety plan. These days who can
  afford to lose an employee to an injury or worse?

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There is Help
5

• CertifyMe, the leader in forklift operator
  safety training and certification helps you
  establish your complete forklift safety plan -
  even if your budgets are stretched to the
  breaking point.

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More Things
24

• All employers should know about forklift
  certification and training

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Why Should You Take This Course?
1

• This course is designed to help you, the
  Employer, implement a forklift safety operations
  program.
• After taking our course, you will have the tools
  necessary to create an efficient, OSHA-compliant
  code of operations for your operators and
  employees.

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Who is This Course Designed For?
2

• This course is created to address the needs and
  benefits of a Powered Industrial Truck training
  certification course.
• As the employer, you are responsible for
  administering a course to your employees that
  meets the specific needs of your equipment and
  situation.

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Who is the Trainer?
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• It is best to plan for classroom training as
  well as hands-on, on-the-job training.
• You may also want to hire an outside person to
  train your employees. Third-party training
  consultants may include
• Forklift suppliers
• Third-party, independent compliance consultants
• Trade organizations or specialized training
  schools
• NSC (National Safety Council)

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Employee Certification
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• Here are some rules of thumb
• Be able to present a contract of the training
  process (for outsource training), as well as
  certificates for each operator.
• Have your trainer work with the operators using
  his current work routines to ensure proper safety
  guidelines are followed.
• REMEMBER TO EVALUATE AND CERTIFY!For a Union has
  trained an operator, have your evaluator observe
  the operator, issue training on any issues he
  sees fit, and
• document everything before certifying him.

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Where to Evaluate Employees?
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• Employees must be evaluated within their
  everyday workplace.
• Since your employees are operating your
  machinery each day on your grounds, and according
  to your safety training, it makes sense that
  they're evaluated in a normal working environment.

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You have A LOT to do!
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• Your training program will require just as much
  administrative work as it does planning and
  actual training.
• Record where and when all training takes place,
  including who provided the training
• Be thorough about evaluation and certification
• Ensure all documentation

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What is my Safety Duty to my Employees?
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• According to OSHA, the General Duty Clause of an
  Employer is as follows
• (GENERAL DUTY CLAUSE)Each employer shall furnish
  to each of his employees employment and a place
  of employment which are free from recognized
  hazards that are causing or are likely to cause
  death or serious harm to his employees.
• Each employee shall comply with occupational
  safety and health standards and all rules,
  regulations and orders issued pursuant to this
  article which are applicable to his own actions
  and conduct.
• Good administrative policy and regular
  evaluation, you will ensure that your employees
  are safe, and your business is OSHA-compliant.

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What is a Good Safety Program?
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• A good safety program has
• Employer that addresses accidents or safety
  issues
• Employer commitment and employee involvement
• Possible hazards and prevention are addressed
• Someone "qualified" oversees safety regulations
  for your operators
• Consequences for employees who don't follow
  safety procedure
• Safety meetings where employee concerns are
  addressed.
• Continual program evaluation to ensure the best
  possible safety program is being implemented

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Forklifts (Powered Industrial Trucks)
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• OSHA defines a Powered Industrial Truck
• Powered industrial trucks, commonly called
  forklifts or lift trucks, are used in many
  industries, primarily to move materials. They can
  be used to move, raise, lower, or remove large
  objects or a number of smaller objects on pallets
  or in boxes, crates, or other containers.
  Commonly known as forklifts, pallet trucks,
  lifttrucks, or forktrucks

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PIT Training Procedures
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• The latest OSHA standard (1999) requires that
  employees undergo both formal training, as well
  as hands-on training.
• The Formal Training should cover the new
  standard, and how it applies to your individual
  workplace and equipment.
• The Practical Training, or Hands-on Training, is
  conducted in your employees' work environment by
  your trainer. This training ensures that your
  employees control and maneuver forklifts using
  safe operating procedures.

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Safe Operation
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• According to regulation (L)(1)
• (L)(1)(i) The employer shall ensure that each
  powered industrial truck operator is competent to
  operate a powered industrial truck safely, as
  demonstrated by the successful completion of the
  training and evaluation specified in this
  paragraph (L).
• (L)(2) Training program implementation.
• (L)(2)(i) Trainees may operate a powered
  industrial truck only(A)Under the direct
  supervision of persons who have the knowledge,
  training, and experience to train operators and
  evaluate their competence and
• (B)Where such operation does not endanger the
  trainee or other employees

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Safe Operation (cont'd)
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• (L)(2)(iii) All operator training and evaluation
  shall be conducted by persons who have the
  knowledge, training, and experience to train
  powered industrial truck operators and evaluate
  their competence.
• (L)(3) Training program content. Powered
  industrial truck operators shall receive initial
  training in the following topics, except in
  topics which the employer can demonstrate are not
  applicable to safe operation of the truck in the
  employers workplace.

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Safe Operation (cont'd)
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• (L)(3)(i) Truck-related topics
• (D)Engine or motor operation
• (E)Steering and maneuvering
• (F)Visibility (including restrictions due to
  loading)
• (G)Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and
  use limitations
• (H)Vehicle capacity
• (I)Vehicle stability
• (J)Any vehicle inspection and maintenance that
  the operator will be required to perform
• (K)Refueling and/or charging and recharging of
  batteries
• (L)Operating limitations
• (M) Any other operation instructions, warnings,
  or precautions listed in the operators manual for
  the types of vehicles that the employee is being
  trained to operate.

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Related Topics
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• In addition to operation of the truck, the
  employee will also need to be trained in
  workplace environmental factors that involve the
  space around the truck, and how external factors
  affect the truck. These include
• (L)(3)(ii) Workplace-related topics
• (A)Surface conditions where the vehicle will be
  operated
• (B)Composition of loads to be carried and load
  stability
• (C)Load manipulation, stacking, and unstacking

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Related Topics (contd)
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• (D)Pedestrian traffic in areas where the vehicle
  will be operated
• (E)Narrow aisles and other restricted places
  where the vehicle will be operated
• (F)Hazardous (classified) locations where the
  vehicle will be operated
• (G)Ramps and other sloped surfaces that could
  affect the vehicle's stability
• (H)Closed environments and other areas where
  insufficient ventilation or poor vehicle
  maintenance could cause a buildup of carbon
  monoxide or diesel exhaust
• (I)Other unique or potentially hazardous
  environmental conditions in the workplace that
  could affect safe operation.

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Refresher Training and Evaluation
13

• When the Refresher Training and Evaluation comes
  in handy
• (L)(4) Refresher Training and Evaluation.
• (L)(4)(i) Refresher training, including an
  evaluation of the effectiveness of that training,
  shall be conducted as required by paragraph
• (L)(4)(ii), to ensure that the operator has the
  knowledge and skills needed to operate the
  powered industrial truck safely.

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Refresher Training and Evaluation (contd)
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• (L)(4)(ii) Refresher training in relevant topics
  shall be provided to the operator when
• (A) The operator has been observed to operate the
  vehicle in an unsafe manner
• (B)The operator has been involved in an accident
  or near-miss incident
• (C)The operator has received an evaluation that
  reveals that the operator is not operating the
  truck safely
• (D)The operator is assigned to drive a different
  type of truck or
• (E)A condition in the workplace changes in a
  manner that could affect safe operation of the
  truck.
• If any of the above conditions are met by the
  operator, Refresher Training may be provided.
  REMEMBER TO RECORD THAT THIS TRAINING HAS
  OCCURRED!

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Evaluations/Duplicate Training
14

• Fortunately, OSHA gives us specific guidelines
  on how often we should evaluate employee
  performance
• (L)(4)(iii) An evaluation of each powered
  industrial truck operators performance shall be
  conducted at least once every three years.
• Remember to schedule these evaluations on time,
  and ensure they are performed. Keep paperwork
  throughout the process to avoid fines.
• Also, as we covered before, you do not need to
  retrain if the operator is found competent. Keep
  records of any instance where such an evaluation
  takes place in lieu of duplicate training.
• (L)(5) Avoidance of duplicative training. If an
  operator has previously received training in a
  topic specified in paragraph (L)(3) of this
  section, and such training is appropriate to the
  truck and working conditions encountered,
  additional training in that topic is not required
  if the operator has been evaluated and found
  competent to operate the truck safely.

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Evaluations/Duplicate Training (contd)
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• Also, as we covered before, you do not need to
  retrain if the operator is found competent. Keep
  records of any instance where such an evaluation
  takes place in lieu of duplicate training.
• (L)(5) Avoidance of duplicative training. If an
  operator has previously received training in a
  topic specified in paragraph (L)(3) of this
  section, and such training is appropriate to the
  truck and working conditions encountered,
  additional training in that topic is not required
  if the operator has been evaluated and found
  competent to operate the truck safely.

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With Regards to Certification
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• (L)(6) Certification. The employer shall certify
  that each operator has been trained and evaluated
  as required by this paragraph
• (L). The certification shall include
• Name of the operator
• Date of the training
• Date of the evaluation
• Identity of the person(s) performing the training
  or evaluation.
• Ensure that all points mentioned on this list
  are recorded as part of your certification
  process.

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With Regards to Certification (contd)
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• (L)(7) Dates. The employer shall ensure that the
  operator of a powered industrial truck was
  trained, as appropriate.
• This means that anyone who operates a truck
  within your workplace should not only be trained,
  but should have documentation available that the
  training took place.
• THIS IS IMPORTANT. Don't skip this valuable step.

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Developing a Training Program
16

• Fortunately, OSHA doesn't leave you in the dark
  when it comes to developing your program.
• 1910.178 (L)(8) Appendix A to this section
  provides non-mandatory guidance to assist
  employers in implementing this paragraph (L).
  This appendix does not add to, alter, or reduce
  the requirements of this section.
• Understanding this section will be very valuable
  to you in developing your program.

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What's Going On?
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• One of your most powerful resources for
  developing a great safety program is yourself!
• Keep a log of your equipment and the specs, as
  well as which operators use that equipment.

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Understanding the Equipment
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• You should be prepared to research more about
  the following basic concepts
• Stability Triangle This is an imaginary triangle
  on the truck representing the force of balance
  available at any time.
• Center of Gravity The point which is at the
  center of the stability triangle - i.e., will
  stop the truck from tipping.
• Load Center The truck will tip forward when it
  is loaded, which adjusts the center of gravity.
  Shifting the front load up will tip back the
  mass.

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Understanding the Equipment (contd)
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• Your operators should also understand these
  hazards
• Power Lines and other obstruction hazards could
  seriously injure or kill an operator
• DO NOT run over power lines.
• Stay at least 10 feet away from any live power
  lines
• Stay over 35 feet away from high-energy lines
• Ramp or slope driving.
• Never reverse or speed the truck on a slope
• procedures for backing up with a load,
• recognizing "blind spots" on the truck

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Operating Manuals
19

• Operating manuals are an extremely important
  part of both your operator's work experience, AND
  your training program.
• OSHA 1910.178.(L)(3)(i)(m) states there must be a
  record of
• " any other operation instructions, warnings or
  precautions listed in the operators manual for
  the types of vehicles that the employee is being
  trained to operate".
• You should make this part of your training
  materials, as well as readily available within
  the truck. OSHA inspectors will check for these
  materials during an inspection.

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ID Plates and Inspections
20

• ALL lift trucks are required to display
  manufacturer ID plates, and inspectors must be
  able to read them
• Replace damaged plates, contact the manufacturer
  for replacement
• Keep records of communication with the
  manufacturer, include those in your files as part
  of your safety compliance process
• Inspect your equipment daily, note its operating
  condition and check the status of your plates

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Evaluating Your Operators
21

• Though there is no formal process OSHA dictates
  for evaluating an employee, you MUST have your
  own process, and you MUST document it thoroughly.
• Written test
• On-site evaluation
• Oral evaluation
• Training documentation

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Training and Evaluation Certification
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• Account that every employee who operates the
  machinery has been trained, evaluated, and
  certified.
• Include the operator's name
• Date and type of training
• Evaluation date
• Identity of Trainer/Evaluator
• Keep your records for three years.

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Special Needs and Requirements
23

• OSHA does not require the employer to have
  machine operators undergo physical examinations.
• If you feel that an operator is a risk to
  himself or fellow operators, or to your
  equipment, you do have the right to take
  appropriate action to ensure the safety of your
  workers.
• Federal law makes it illegal to hire an operator
  under the age of 18. After confirming age, you do
  not need to require special licensure for
  operators to drive your forklifts.

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OSHA Construction Safety Course
24

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