Forklift Safety on a Shared Floor: What Operators and Pedestrians Each Need to Do

A forklift and a person on foot often share the same floor, and each has a job to do to keep that arrangement safe. Operators control the truck, and pedestrians control where they stand and how they cross. Problems start when either side assumes the other one is paying attention.

Where the danger sits

The top hazards are rollovers or falls, pedestrian collisions, unstable or overloaded loads, and blind spots, slick surfaces, ramps, and dock edges. Most of the rules below exist to keep those four from turning into an injury.

What operators owe everyone else

Only trained, certified operators age 18 or older may drive a forklift, and training and evaluation must match the truck and the workplace. For the requirements behind that, see our earlier post, Safety Tips: Forklift Operation and Best Practices.

Start each shift with an inspection of the tires, forks, mast, fluids, steering, brakes, horn, alarms, lights, seat belt, and nameplate. Pull any defective truck out of service, and confirm the load is stable, balanced, and within capacity. Then follow these rules while driving:

• Wear the seat belt and use three points of contact.
• Obey speed limits, and slow down and sound the horn at blind spots.
• Travel with the forks low, and never raise or lower a moving load.
• Allow no riders and no horseplay, and never walk under raised forks.
• Keep clear of ramps, docks, edges, and fixed objects.
• When parked, lower the forks, neutralize the controls, shut off the power, and set the brake.

What people on foot owe operators

A forklift cannot stop or swerve the way a person can, so pedestrians need to make themselves predictable.

• Use marked walkways and pause at crossings.
• Stay clear of turning forklifts and rear swing.
• Report unsafe operation immediately.

Never exceed rated capacity or skip inspections, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your site rules.

Visit the AICC page to learn more about the Automotive Industries Compensation Corporation, a self insured workers’ compensation program sponsored by NARFA and available to Massachusetts businesses with a fleet of 5 or more vehicles.

To learn more about NARFA, please contact us today!