Sometimes you are so busy choosing a forklift service shop that you don’t pay attention to other important things. One of them is to identify the type of failure that triggers the disturbance in heavy equipment.
A study carried out during 2014-2015 by the Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom indicated that the manufacturing and transport industry sectors are the factors that contribute the most to workplace accidents.
Meanwhile, forklifts are the most frequently recorded heavy equipment. A total of 23 operators were killed and another 500 were slightly injured in a workplace collision.
Before selecting a forklift, let’s know the main causes of injuries when using forklifts so that you need to be vigilant in understanding a number of mistakes that often occur when using a forklift and the following suggestions.
1. Overload capacity
Even though it is listed as a heavy-duty forklift, it still has a maximum capacity that must be obeyed. Unfortunately, some operators ignore this fact and are forced to carry the load.
As a result, the forklift will topple over or tip over to endanger the people around it. Operators handling heavy equipment must not violate the provisions and must always ensure that the transported load does not exceed the limit.
2. Not mastering the route passed by the forklift
The forklifts that are driven often go through routes with piles of pallets, narrow areas, and even pedestrians.
Operators who do not master or understand the character of the route will clearly invite risks of equipment damage to the safety of others in the project environment.
It is best for the operator to maintain a safe distance of approximately three meters between the forklift and other people or other drivers of heavy equipment. A pre-project survey will also help.
3. Careless lifting of pallets
The next mistake that causes forklift damage is operator carelessness when transporting, moving, or lowering pallets.
If done without following the rules, the risk of the forklift tipping over, falling, and being damaged will be very great.
To avoid this, make sure that the pallet you want to transport does not violate the rules. Also, make sure that the load you are carrying is at the lowest level by walking or walking (approximately 15 cm).
4. Battery or hydraulic fluid exhausted
If you are using a forklift with a battery or hydraulic fluid, be sure to check the horsepower capacity to avoid running out of power.
Forklifts that shut down suddenly while on a flat surface are very dangerous, especially if you are hauling loads. In addition to choosing the right forklift service shop, be sure to always recharge the battery when it reaches 20% rather than waiting for it to run out.
5. Rarely do maintenance
While forklifts can be repaired, serious damage will sometimes require you to buy new equipment.
It is also inevitable that you will spend a large budget to replace it. In fact, prevention can be done with regular forklift maintenance.
Unfortunately, some people still think that routine maintenance is a useless step. In fact, both maintenance and inspection of forklifts before use will save them from accidents.
6. Drive a forklift at high speed
If driving motorcycles and cars at high speeds is too risky, what happens when you do it with a forklift? Its heavy load will cause fatal damage to the project to the point of claiming the lives of people close to the heavy equipment.
Therefore, do not ignore the recommended speed limit for safety reasons. You don’t need to rush if you’re still on schedule.
7. Park the forklift carelessly
If you park a forklift without applying the parking brake, there is a risk of moving heavy equipment and hitting objects and people around you.
Instead of making up for the loss, you should get used to parking the forklift according to the instructions.
Make sure the machine is placed in a safe place with a flat surface, set the forks as low as possible, apply the tire and handbrake pads, turn off the engine, and remove the key from the ignition.
8. Abusing forklifts for other things
Using forklifts for other purposes, whether intentional or not, will bring disaster to many parts. For example, loading people by placing them on forks or lifting other workers with forklifts because they believe it is faster than climbing stairs.
Although the effort was successful in the end, it should not be repeated to avoid a fatal accident. Also, wear your seat belt while in the project environment.
After identifying faults or factors that cause damage to the forklift, it will be easier for you to explain them to the motor that drives the heavy equipment.
Read more: Types of Forklift
On a smaller scale, you can take it as a lesson to be more alert. You don’t want to have to pay compensation or even get fired for a small mistake, right?
Even so, there will always be the risk of workplace accidents. Arm yourself with memorizing important numbers, such as the police and hospitals, that can be contacted in an emergency situation. You should also choose a forklift service shop that provides quality assurance for maintenance.
