National Forklift Safety Day

Celebrate this year’s event by ensuring your equipment is in tip-top shape with a free site survey. Now through the rest of June, our team is available to stop by your warehouse to conduct a thorough assessment of your current racking, equipment, and docking for proper usage and optimization. 

*Offer limited to Columbus, OH, and the surrounding counties. 

The Do's and Don'ts With Forklifts

DO

  • Wear designated work clothes and protective devices
  • Only allow operators who have a license and have completed forklift operation training to operate a forklift
  • Inspect the forklift before starting work and inform the supervisor immediately if there are problems 
  • Contact your dealer for repairs and maintenance
  • Fasten your seat belt before operating a forklift
  • Stay within the appropriate speed for the environment.
  • Use pallets and skids that are undamaged and can withstand the weight of the load
  • Use a helper for loads in tight spaces
  • Use your horn and look left and right before proceeding into an aisle 
  • Keep your forks below a foot off the ground in a tilted position
  • Keep your visibility cleared of objects
  • Slow down when going around turns
  • Balance your load, especially for oversized loads
  • Utilize hand signals to communicate who will proceeds first and who will stop at all intersections where a pedestrian is present
  • Maintain brake contact when approaching a pedestrian, intersection or a blind corner

DON'T

  • Drive over objects such as broken pieces of wood
  • Stack the load on the pallets and skids unevenly
  • Use the tip of the forks as a lever to raise a heavy load
  • Push a load using the tips of the forks
  • Allow more than one rider on the forklift
  • Place hands or feet on the cross members of the mast. Your hand may be injured if the mast is lowered while your hand is on it
  • Operate with a load that exceeds the lifting capacity
  • Drive the forklift or any other mobile equipment in a designated “Pedestrians Only” aisle or walkway
  • Go within 2 feet of a pedestrian when stopped

NFSD Posters