Safety Tidbit 3.45 - Danger - Unattended Forklift

Safety Tidbit 3.45 – Danger - Unattended Forklift

Reference:       OSHA Powered Industrial Truck Standard (1910.178)

According to statistics compiled by the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) in 2013, it was estimated that 34,900 serious injuries annually due to forklifts. While onsite this week, I had a great discussion with a very engaged safety manager who asked about unattended forklifts. His workers must get on and off their trucks routinely to do various tasks. So, we started by reviewing the OSHA requirements:

1. When a powered industrial truck is left unattended, load engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls shall be neutralized, power shall be shut off, and brakes set. Wheels shall be blocked if the truck is parked on an incline. [1910.178(m)(5)(i)]

2. A powered industrial truck is unattended when the operator is 25 ft. or more away from the vehicle which remains in his view, or whenever the operator leaves the vehicle and it is not in his view. [1910.178(m)(5)(ii)]

3. When the operator of an industrial truck is dismounted and within 25 ft. of the truck still in his view, the load engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls neutralized, and the brakes set to prevent movement. [1910.178(m)(5)(iii)]

Item 3 above is where this workplace typically falls. The operator is dismounted and within 25 feet of the machine. Unfortunately, the forklift we came across had the load raised and the brakes were not set. The safety manager spoke with the operator and retrained him on the company procedures, lowered the forks and set the brake. 

You all have seen these shortcuts happen in your workplaces. I implore you, when you are walking your plant or site please remind the workers that the small amount of time they shaved off their procedure may cost someone many hours in the emergency room or worse. 

Hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have an interesting safety or health question please let me know.