Drive Safely - Forklifts

 

Overview
Forklifts are one type of powered industrial truck. Others include platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, tractors, and other trucks that are powered by an electric motor or internal combustion engine. Improper handling or misuse of forklifts often causes injuries.

OSHA requires operators to be trained. Before operating a forklift, you should understand the basic operating and loading rules, basic rules for safe travel, truck-related and workplace-related information, and how to perform a safety check.

Basic Operating and Loading Rules
Accidents can be avoided if basic powered industrial truck operating and loading rules are followed. Some of these rules are:
• Do not allow anyone to stand or pass under raised forks, whether loaded or empty.
• Only stable or safely arranged loads can be handled.
• Only loads that are within the truck’s rated capacity can be handled. (When you are using an attachment to handle a load, keep the load within the attachment’s rated capacity.)
• When lifting a load, place the forks (or other load engaging means) under the load as far as possible. Then, carefully tilt the mast backwards slightly to stabilize the load.
• Never tilt the load forward unless you are depositing it.
• Trucks need to have an overhead guard to protect the operator from the impact of falling packages, boxes, etc. (the guard does not need to withstand the impact of a falling capacity load). A backrest extension is needed when the load could fall rearward.
• Only safety platforms can be used to lift people.
• If the forklift needs to be used in a hazardous (classified) location, it must be approved for the hazard.
• When you get off of the forklift temporarily, and remain within 25 feet of it (and the forklift remains in your view), lower the forks, put the controls in neutral, and set the brakes. Block the wheels if the truck is on an incline. If you will be leaving the forklift 25 or more feet away (or anytime it will be out of your view), shut it off.
• When you park the forklift, make sure access to fire aisles, stairways, and fire equipment is kept clear.

Basic Rules for Safe Travel
Most accidents happen while the truck is traveling. Follow these rules to travel safely:
• Watch where you are going. Drive in reverse with the load trailing if the load obstructs your view. Keep a clear view of your path, and look in the direction you are traveling.
• Never drive up to anyone standing in front of a bench or other fixed object.
• Allow no riders. (If riders are authorized, the truck must provide them with a safe place to ride.)
• Always keep your arms or legs within the truck. Placing them between the uprights of the mast or outside the running lines of the truck is not allowed.
• Keep the load close to the ground while you drive. Raise the forks only as much as you need to so that you clear the road surface. Tilt the load back slightly to stabilize it against the backrest.
• Keep to the right where there is two-way traffic.
• Obey speed limits. Slow down for wet and slippery floors. Slow down for turns. Keep the forklift under control so you can stop it safely.
• Slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles and other locations where vision is obstructed.
• Maintain a safe distance of about three truck lengths from a truck that you are following.
• Do not pass a truck that is traveling in your same direction at intersections, blind spots, or other dangerous locations.
• Do not allow stunt driving or horseplay. And, avoid running over loose objects.
• Make sure you always have enough clearance under overhead installations (lights, pipes, sprinkler system, doorways, etc.)
• Stay within the rated capacity of dockboards and bridgeplates. Make sure they are secure before you drive on them. Keep a safe distance from the edge of any elevated dock, ramp, or platform.
• While using the forklift to load and unload trucks, trailers, or railroad cars, always set the brakes and use wheel blocks to keep the truck/trailer/rail car from moving. Use fixed jacks to support a semitrailer that is not coupled to a tractor. Check the floor for breaks and weaknesses before you drive the forklift inside. Do not use the truck to open or close freight doors.
• Follow special precautions from your employer when the forklift will be driven on slopes, across railroad tracks, and into elevators.

Truck-related and Workplace-related Information
Your employer will make sure you know about the following topics:
• Operating instructions, warnings, and precautions for the types of truck the operator will be authorized to operate.
• Differences between the truck and the automobile.
• Truck controls and instrumentation: where they are located, what they do, and how they work.
• Engine and motor operation.
• Steering and maneuvering.
• Visibility (including restrictions due to loading).
• Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and use limitations.
• Vehicle capacity.
• Vehicle stability.
• Any vehicle inspection and maintenance that the operator will be required to perform.
• Refueling and/or charging and recharging of batteries.
• Operating limitations.
• Any other operating instructions, warnings, or precautions listed in the operator’s manual for the types of vehicle that the employee is being trained to operate.
• Surface conditions where the vehicle will be operated.
• Composition of loads to be carried and load stability.
• Load manipulation, stacking, and unstacking.
• Pedestrian traffic in areas where the vehicle will be operated.
• Narrow aisles and other restricted places where the vehicle will be operated.
• Hazardous (classified) locations where the vehicle will be operated.
• Ramps and other sloped surfaces that could affect the vehicle’s stability.
• Closed environments and other areas where insufficient ventilation or poor vehicle maintenance could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide or diesel exhaust.
• Other unique or potentially hazardous environmental conditions in the workplace that could affect safe operation.

How to Perform a Safety Check
Proper maintenance helps keep forklifts operating safely. Inspect the forklift for damage, defects, and unusual conditions. A safety check must be performed before operating the forklift each day (and, check it after each shift when it is used round-the-clock). Consider these items:
• The fork pins and stops must be in place.
• All cowling and body parts must not be broken, loose, or missing.
• Check the fuel level, crankcase oil level, radiator fluid level, hydraulic fluid level, and the battery electrolyte level. Look for any leaks (check under the truck). Never use an open flame to help you see fluid levels.
• Check all belts, hoses, tires, etc. for damage or excessive wear.
• Check the operation of the brakes, steering, lift and tilt controls, hour meter, lights, and horn.
• If at any time a powered industrial truck is found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe, the truck is to be taken out of service until it is restored to a safe condition.
• Truck repairs must be made by an authorized person. Before repairs are made to the electrical system, the truck’s battery must be disconnected.
• Any vehicle that emits hazardous sparks or flames from the exhaust system must be immediately removed from service.
• Forklifts that have a leak in the fuel system may not be operated until the leak is repaired.
• When a part of a forklift is found to be in excess of its normal operating temperature (creating a hazardous condition), the forklift must be removed from service until the cause for the overheating has been eliminated.
• Water mufflers on industrial trucks must be checked daily or often enough to keep them adequately filled.
• Flames, sparks, or electric arcs are to be prevented in battery charging areas. Smoking is not allowed. Tools and other metallic objects are to be kept away from the top of uncovered batteries.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Flammable Liquids

 

They’re called flammable liquids, but it’s not the liquid that you need to worry about—it’s the vapor that begins to form as soon as the container is opened. This vapor can explode at the first spark from a tool, a match, simple friction, static electricity or even high temperatures. Most flammable liquids are volatile, that is, they evaporate quickly and reach a concentration in the air that could lead to an explosion. Flammable vapors are especially dangerous because you can’t see them, and often you can’t smell them. Solvents, cleaning fluids, acetone, alcohol and fuels are some of the flammable liquids you may use on the job.

Working Safely With Flammable Liquids
• Control the three potential hazards: temperature, concentration of vapor and ignition sources.

• Read the safety data sheet (SDS) for each liquid you use so you’ll know its flash point as well as its upper and lower explosive limits—the range in which vapors are at the right concentration to explode if they’re ignited.

• Follow your employer’s flammable liquids safety policy.

• Always wear the correct, properly fitted personal protective equipment.

• Ventilate the area to keep vapor concentration down.

• Know which chemicals, such as oxidizers, increase the fire dangers of flammables.

• Know the location of the correct fire extinguisher to use in a flammables fire.

• Never smoke in areas with flammable liquids.

• Avoid mixing flammables; even small amounts of highly volatile liquids can lower the flash point of the mixture to dangerous levels.

• Check with your supervisor for instruction on how to dispose of flammable liquids.

• Store flammable-soaked rags and other waste materials in tightly covered, specially designated containers.

• Never pour flammable liquids down drains.

• Keep flammables away from welding, cutting and grinding operations.

• Be cautious with empty drums that have contained flammable liquids.

• Never do repair work or welding on an empty flammables drum without getting clearance first.

• Make sure that areas below where you’re working are ventilated or sealed off to prevent the vapors from flowing down into them.

• Special spark-proof switches and fixtures should be installed in areas where flammable liquids are used.

Storing Flammable Liquids
• Keep flammable-liquid containers tightly covered, and store away from other chemicals and ignition sources in well-ventilated, temperature-controlled areas.

• Storage areas for flammables should be equipped with non-sparking electrical systems and heat sources.

• Store flammables separately from other chemicals, especially reactives such as oxidizers, in well-ventilated, temperature controlled areas.

• Make sure flammables are stored in authorized containers and are correctly and clearly labeled for flammability. Liquids with a flash point of 80° F or less must be marked with a red label.

• Make certain containers are fireproof and have vapor screens and vapor-tight caps.

• Attach grounding wires to flammable storage containers to prevent static electricity buildup.

• Before transferring flammable liquids from a drum to a container, be sure to connect the container to the drum with a bonding wire before pouring the liquid, since the friction of pouring can ignite the vapors.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com 

Know First Aid

 

Overview
Workplace injuries can be costly for all involved. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in a typical year, there are,

• More than 10,000 work-related fatalities.

• Approximately 1.8 million work-related disabling injuries.

• Approximately 35 million lost workdays from non-fatal injuries.

Prompt, properly administered first aid can mean the difference between life and death, rapid versus prolonged recovery, or temporary versus permanent disability. Your company emphasizes a safe environment, but when accidents happen it is important to have someone who knows how to handle the situation effectively.

What must my employer do?
Your employer must provide:

• medical personnel to be available for advice and consultation on occupational health matters.

• a person or persons adequately trained to provide first aid, in the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees.

• adequate first aid supplies.

• suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body, where the eyes or the body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials.

Training can be conducted in-house or from an outside agency, like the Red Cross. Wherever training is conducted, the following topics should be covered:

• Health emergencies.

• Procedures to follow when approaching an accident scene and the victim(s).

• CPR.

• Review of possible injuries that may occur at your facility.

• Universal precautions for first-aid procedures.

• First-aid supplies.

Emergency response time
Your employer must provide an emergency response time of:

• 15 minutes in non-life threatening situations.

• three to four minutes in life threatening situations.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Sanitation

 

Jobsite sanitation is important to your health. Good clean drinking water, toilets, food services, and washing facilities are all regulated by OSHA. Of all the requirements, drinking water and toilets are probably the most important issues.

Drinking water—Drinking water must be available at all construction sites no matter how many employees are working. The following requirements are a must for drinking water:
• It must be clean and drinkable.
• A common drinking cup is prohibited. Water cannot be dipped from containers.
• Portable water containers must be sealable and have a tap.
• When using “one serving” disposable cups, a sanitary unused cup and a used cup container must be provided.

Non-drinking water—If you have non-drinking water at your jobsites it must be clearly marked by signs to indicate it is unsafe and not to be used for drinking, washing, or cooking.

Toilets at construction sites—Toilets must be provided for employees in the following numbers: 20 workers or less – 1; 20 workers or more – 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers; 200 or more workers – 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers. Under temporary field conditions, not less than one toilet must be available.

Other sanitation requirements
Other sanitation requirements, depending on your work situation, can include: Adequate washing facilities for painting, coating, working with herbicides or insecticides, or other operations where contaminants may harm you must be provided. The facilities must be near the worksite.

Lavatories must be made available in all places of employment. This does not apply to mobile crews or to normally unattended work locations if employees working at these locations have transportation to nearby washing facilities that have: (1) hot and cold or tepid running water, (2) hand soap or similar cleansing agents, and (3) individual hand towels or sections of hand towels of cloth or paper, warm air blowers, or clean individual sections of continuous cloth toweling.

Whenever showers are required by a particular standard, they must meet the requirements of the OSHA regulations.

Every enclosed workplace must be constructed, equipped, and maintained, as far as reasonably practical, to prevent entry or harborage of rodents, insects, and other vermin.

Jobsite sanitation is critical to your health and well being. All kinds of diseases can be present around drinking and toilet facilities. See what you can do today to help keep your worksite sanitary.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Fire Prevention Plan

 

Overview
A fire is one of the costliest accidents a business can have. Even more costly is the death and injury toll from fires and explosions. In one recent year, fires and explosions caused more than 5,000 injuries requiring time off from work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Fire Prevention Plan
Your company has a written emergency action plan, and as part of that, a fire prevention plan. The reason these plans exist is to help keep workers safe.

You have the right to know about the possible fire hazards in your workplace. The company fire plan should, at a minimum, contain the following:

• A list of the major workplace fire hazards and their proper handling and storage proce¬dures; potential ignition sources and their control procedures; and the type of fire protec¬tion equipment or systems which can control a fire involving them.

• Names or job titles of persons responsible for maintenance of equipment and systems installed to prevent or control ignitions or fires.

• Names or job titles of persons responsible for control of fuel source hazards.

• Housekeeping procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues.

• Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards installed on heat-producing equipment.

What must my employer do?
The employer is responsible for:

• Controlling accumulations of flammable and combustible materials through proper housekeeping.

• Reviewing the fire plan with each employee, and making a written copy available upon request.

• Reviewing with each employee those parts of the plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency. This shall take place upon initial assignment.

• Properly maintaining equipment and systems installed on heat producing equipment to prevent fires.

For employers with 10 or more employees, the written fire prevention plan will be in writing and kept in the workplace and made available for employee review.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com