Tag: forklift

Avoiding the Number One Citation from OSHA

According to statistics released in publications for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the number one reason for citations in warehouses across America is the forklift.  This makes perfect sense if you consider that more than 100 individuals die each year as a result of forklift related accidents and that nearly 100,000 people are injured in forklift incidents every single year.

If your employees, even ones that have been driving your forklift for a substantial period of time, don’t closely adhere to the proper safety guidelines when driving, they are putting themselves, other employees and your entire operation at risk.  Forklifts can be a huge asset to the warehouse and material handling environment, but only if they are used in a consciously safe manner.  Many forklifts are also loud and run on combustible fuels, which can add another element of risk to operation and storage.

Though forklifts have many potential benefits, if you run a warehouse or distribution center, there may be safer and easier alternatives to your material handling needs.  Battery powered carts from DJ Products create no noise pollution and operate free of combustible fuels – they are powered by a long life battery that can easily handle an entire, fast paced shift on a single charge, making them much more efficient and much less expensive to operate than a traditional forklift.

Keeping your employees safe is integral to running a successful business and the battery powered carts from DJ Products are designed with employee safety in mind.  All carts are ergonomically designed to prevent over use injuries and the overall operation is so simple that a single employee can transport heavy loads safely with very little physical effort.  This gives your employees the power to perform work as quickly as they could with a forklift, without the potential hazards often associated with forklift operation.  By trading in the biggest risk of employee injury for a much safer alternative you can greatly increase your company’s overall productivity while at the same time reducing risks to your valuable employees – that’s a winning situation for everyone.

Why More Companies Are Going Forklift Free

Increasingly, companies are moving to forklift-free production floors. Bulky forklifts that used to be a staple in material handling are being replaced by a more maneuverable, ergonomically-designed powered cart and tug. Safety and high forklift operating/maintenance costs are the two main reasons business is changing its approach to material handling.

  • Every year in the U.S., forklift-related accidents kill nearly 100 workers and seriously injure another 20,000. The leading cause of fatalities is forklift overturns which account for 25% of all forklift-related deaths. Compare that to the zero-death record of ergonomically-designed CartCaddies. And the ergonomic design of these walk-behind electric tuggers drastically reduces worker injury and associated medical, insurance, disability and lost man-hour costs.
  • Over the life of a forklift, operating/maintenance expenses chew up 80% of the total costs. Ownership represents only 20% of a forklift’s total cost. A recent study by the Hyster Company, a major player in the forklift industry, indicates that only 6% of forklift owners know their real maintenance costs, and few companies have cost-reduction programs in place. The annual fuel costs alone for a single forklift can run from $15,000 for gas and diesel to $3,000-$8,000 for battery-charged electric trucks. Compare that to the average $300 per year battery/maintenance expense of operating an ergonomic electric CartCaddy.

Other advantages of implementing a forklift-free program in favor of a more maneuverable, ergonomically-designed powered cart and tug include: inventory reduction, improved material flow, reduction of line-side handling equipment and floor space, improved operator ergonomics, improved scheduling flexibility, reduced coordination time and improved cycle efficiency.