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Additional Safeguards to Increase Your Forklift’s Safety
Throughout Fraza Safety Month, we have discussed the importance of operator training, the key elements of forklift safety, and how to set up a safety initiative at your business. For the last week of Safety Month, we want to show you ways to take the extra step towards safety, by discussing additional safeguards to add to your forklifts.
Standard Forklift Safety Features
Every forklift comes equipped with standard safety features that protect the driver while in operation. One of the most important standard safety features is the seatbelt. In the event of a tip-over, the seatbelt is designed to keep the operator secure and inside the truck to reduce the chance of getting stuck underneath the forklift. Before starting the engine, the operator should be sat down with their seatbelt fastened. The seatbelt may seem like a simple safety feature, but it can greatly increase your chances of survival in the case of an accident.
Another important standard safety feature on forklifts is the reverse alarm. Visibility is important not only to operators, but to pedestrians as well. While an operator is traveling in reverse, their visibility is limited. The reverse alarm makes it easier for drivers to let pedestrians and other operators know that they are backing up and to remain a safe distance away from the forklift.
Additional Safeguards
Safety features like seatbelts and reverse alarms are standard on every forklift, but there are options for add-ons to increase your efficiency and safety.
Even though the seatbelt is one of the most important safety features on a forklift, some operators fail to use them every time they drive. It is easier to enforce seatbelt safety rules when you switch out the standard seatbelt with a brightly colored orange belt. This increases the seatbelt’s visibility, allowing others to make sure that the operator is wearing their seatbelt while driving.
In addition to the reverse alarm on your truck, lights are another option to increase safety. If the workplace is too loud, pedestrians and operators won’t be able to hear the alarm while the operator is backing up. Trucks are already equipped with standard safety lights, but blue safety lights can be added to increase visibility to pedestrians. Blue lights can be placed in front of or on the rear of the forklift and shine on the floor to alert others that a forklift is approaching.
Why You Should Add These Products to Your Equipment
Having operators and pedestrians educated about operator training, forklift safety procedures, and safety initiatives throughout the entire workplace are the key steps to creating a safe work environment. Even though your forklift comes equipped with standard safety features, there are multiple safeguards to prevent accidents and make the operator’s job more efficient. By adding these products to your equipment, you are making safety a priority and are doing the most to have the safest workplace possible.