3 Essential Ways to Improve the Safety of Lift Truck Operators

Your workplace may have an above-average track record for safety, and your injury, accident and incident rates may be low when measured against industry standards. But even so, just one accident can cause serious damage to your bottom line. And even one injury over the course of ten years can still cause untold suffering to the unlucky victim and his or her family. No matter how strong a safety record may be, it can always be stronger.

So as you look over your workplace procedures and conditions, what can you do to improve the safety of all your employees with a cleaner and safer environment? Keep these considerations in mind.

Training

You usually hire skilled lift truck operators to step into your open positions. But if you’re like most workplaces, you occasionally hire and train operators who show high potential but have little or no forklift training of any kind. As you train these operators in-house, are you using the very best resources available? Are your training texts and media presentations state-of-the-art? And do your testing methods accurately evaluate worker competence and readiness? Take a closer look.

Refresher Courses and Management Training

Experienced forklift operators are generally safer and more reliable behind the controls. But while experience brings advantages, these operators may take certain safety rules for granted or they may cut corners or take risks that newer operators are more likely to avoid. Keep your advanced lift truck operators safe and competent by providing regular refresher courses and recertification opportunities. And of course, make sure your trainers and instructors know how to communicate their knowledge to those under their guidance.

Safe Equipment

While safe practices and safe workplaces start with safe operators, never underestimate the importance of reliable equipment. The safest lift trucks, overhead cranes, storage units, and other equipment offer the best of two things: modernization and maintenance. Make sure your lift trucks provide adequate safety restraints, signaling and traffic control features. And make sure both your owned and rented trucks are maintained on a regular schedule so any safety issues can be caught and corrected before they create serious problems.