As the world moves towards more globalization, the number of warehouses has increased dramatically. More warehouses mean more warehouse workers, especially those who can operate forklift trucks. This is a skilled manual job and one that is much sought after, due to it being such an integral part of a warehouse’s infrastructure. As a warehouse worker, you need to be sure that you are taking all the necessary precautions when you are driving. This article aims to give you six of the main precautions that every warehouse worker should take when driving a forklift.
Keep Yourself Covered
First and foremost, you need to be sure that you have insurance. If an accident does happen at work, either to yourself or another person you will need to make sure that you are legally covered. Employers should have systems in place in their contracts to cover you for any workplace accidents but you can never be too careful. It could also be a good idea to have a personal injury lawyer in Lexington KY on hand just in case the worst does happen. Driving a forklift can be quite dangerous and accidents do happen. It is important to make sure that you will not be liable for any accidents as you would not want to be sued. Keeping yourself covered is one of the most important precautions to take when you drive a forklift.
Workspace Layout
When you work in a warehouse there needs to be a clear workspace layout. There should be clearly defined areas that are for pedestrians only and areas that are for vehicles. It might seem easy to get out of the way of an oncoming forklift, but in a busy warehouse with a lot going on, it is much better to set out who should be where. This simple precaution will make the chances of injury or accidents so much smaller. As a driver, you would also be more comfortable in the knowledge that there should not be anybody walking around on your road. Making sure that everyone knows where they should and should not be is an essential precaution to take as a warehouse forklift driver.
Ask For Training
If you are new to the job of forklift driving, or you are not used to the type of forklift you are going to be using, request specific training. There is no shame in wanting a refresher course in best practices for operating a forklift. With every type of forklift, there will be training courses available, as well as documentation that can be read up on to make sure you understand everything about your vehicle. Realistically your employer should send you on a training course before you start regardless of how experienced you are. However if they do not, feel free to ask for one and they should be very obliging. Getting training or a refresher course on forklift operation and safety is a key precaution that every forklift driver should take.
Maintain Your Forklift
Having a good understanding of the operation of your forklift is essential to your safety and others. A major component of that is that you understand how to maintain your forklift. As you are working you should be on the lookout for any part that does not appear to be working correctly. Whether it is the actual lift part of the fork that appears to get a bit stuck or maybe it is slightly uneven, you need to have it regularly looked at. As a driver, you should be doing a daily check of the vehicle before you start working every day. Making this part of your morning routine is a really good habit to get into. If there are any aspects of the forklift that are not working as they should then you must not drive it. Precision is key when operating a forklift and having any form of confusion or resistance from your vehicle is not going to end well. Regular maintenance on your forklift is an essential precaution to take as a forklift driver.
Do Not Be Complacent
The number one rule of forklift driving is to not be complacent. Even if you have had 20 years of forklift driving experience this does not mean that you know how to operate every type of forklift there is. Forklifts are generally in two different categories, the electric ones, and the gas ones. Within those brackets are many multitudes of different brands and types, all with their own take on forklift functionality. You should never assume that you know how to operate a forklift that you have had no experience with before. If someone asks you to fill in for them, on a vehicle you don’t know, you should politely decline. Although they might all seem the same, when it comes to keeping safe you cannot make any assumptions. Not being complacent is an essential precaution that every forklift driver must take.
Keep Visible And Communicate
As with every warehouse, you will be required to wear hi-vis clothing. This is super important as you must be as visible as possible at all times. Warehouses are noisy places and sometimes you can not rely solely on your ears for oncoming danger. This is also why a clear communication channel needs to be in operation at all times. This can be delivered through the use of radios with earpieces so that you can confirm your movements at all times. To avoid congestion and unnecessary interaction with other forklifts you should be constantly communicating your position and movements to your colleagues. Keeping up this communication and visibility will help keep everyone at the warehouse safe. This is a vital precaution that all forklift drivers should take.
Lift Off
Working in a warehouse as a forklift driving can be a very demanding job. Long hours combined with an intense focus on what you are doing makes for a tired brain. It can be easy to lose concentration and go onto autopilot when you have been doing the same thing for so long. Remembering to take all of the necessary precautions should keep you alert and out of harm’s way.