Tag: Forklift Accidents

Tips for Preventing Expensive Forklift Accidents in Your Warehouse

Always Stop and Let a Forklift Pass, to Avoid an Accident.
Always Stop and Let a Forklift Pass, to Avoid an Accident.

Forklift accidents can cause costly damage to warehouse equipment, but that’s not even the worst possible result. Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) indicates that 85 deaths and almost 35,000 serious injuries due to forklift accidents occur each year.

Reduce the risk of damage and injury with these five proactive tips for preventing forklift accidents:

Ensure Adequate Ventilation

People generally associate forklift accidents with mechanical operation, but forklifts also emit carbon monoxide at levels that can lead to poisoning. Make sure there is sufficient ventilation, especially if forklifts are used in enclosed areas.

Provide Secure Parking

No matter how busy the day is, forklifts should always be returned to their parking spaces with keys removed. This keeps the forklift from being an obstacle and prevents unauthorized use.

Conduct Regular Training and Inspections

– Train all new hires in proper forklift operation and continue to promote awareness and safety precautions.

– Schedule regular inspections and perform maintenance as needed.

Failure to observe these two practices can result in OSHA citations and fines.

Load Forklifts Correctly

Forklift loads should be balanced, with larger and heavier items on the bottom, and they shouldn’t be stacked too high. In addition, forklifts should never be used to raise employees to upper shelves.

Remove Obstructions

Poor sight, operator error and driving off a loading dock are all common causes of forklift accidents. Make sure forklift operators have a clear path and nothing is obstructing their sight lines.

Turn to DJ Products for High Quality Warehouse Equipment

Show your commitment to safety with eco-friendly tugs, pushers and movers from DJ Products. Our warehouse equipment is easy to use and ergonomically designed to prevent repetitive motion injuries.

Visit our website to learn more.

Forklift Accidents – What to Know

Heavy Machinery Comes with its Risks. Be Safe. Here's What You Need to Know.
Heavy Machinery Comes with its Risks. Be Safe. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Forklifts have been around since the mid-1900s. Early versions were developed to a large extent because of the labor shortages caused by World War I. Companies needed to move heavy materials with significantly fewer workers.

Currently, there are close to one million forklifts in use in the United States, which can be expensive to maintain and are not always the best choice for moving loads through busy work areas. Check out our complete line of DJ Products warehouse equipment for low-maintenance, energy-efficient movers that are designed to maneuver heavy loads in tight areas.

The high cost of forklift accidents

OSHA estimates there are 85 forklift-related deaths in the U.S. each year. Forty-two percent of those deaths occur when someone is crushed by an overturning forklift. Approximately one of every six workplace deaths involves a forklift.

According to OSHA, there are 34,900 serious injuries and 61,800 minor injuries due to forklift accidents each year and almost half (46%) of them are forklift collisions where people are struck by moving forklifts, crushed between two forklifts, or trapped between a forklift and a stationary object.

If you’ve spent much time around forklifts, you’ve probably seen some close calls. Eventually, the odds catch up and there’s an injury. There’s a 10% chance that each forklift in your business will be involved in an accident this year. During their useful life, 90 percent of forklifts will be involved in at least one accident.

Choose the right equipment for the job

You can maximize manpower and improve the safety of your facility by using warehouse equipment that is specifically designed for moving heavy loads in tight areas. Contact one of our sales engineers to discuss the DJ Products warehouse equipment best suited to your needs.