SCF Arizona
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The death of a Phoenix man on Jan. 29 after being struck by a forklift serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with the “modern muscle” of many industries.
Forklifts are a must-have in yard and plant operations because of their ability to handle heavy articles and materials. They are used to stack heavy pallets or goods packed in heavy containers.
But every load is different and requires a trained forklift driver to make good judgments; otherwise, injuries or fatalities occur. According to national Occupational Safety and Health Administration statistics, 556 people lost their lives from 2003-2006 because of forklift accidents.
“I believe the most important aspect of forklift safety for drivers is proper training,” said SCF Loss Control Consultant Armando Sapien. “To comply with the OSHA standard, every employer that utilizes forklifts in operations must design and implement a certification program that is specific to the forklifts used.”
The OSHA requirement for training includes formal instruction, with classroom teaching, discussions, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material and practical training through demonstrations performed by the company’s authorized trainer.
After this, the student must complete practical exercises, and the trainer evaluates the trainee’s performance.
“OSHA has outlined the specific training elements in its standard to include vehicle capacity, truck controls, vehicle inspection and many other elements,” Sapien said. This training needs to be conducted before employees are assigned to a forklift.”
Forklift design is based on a stability triangle. The front axle acts as the base and supports the load's weight. The sides of this triangle meet at the steering point, either at a single wheel or in the middle of the steering axle of four-wheeled models.
Keeping the downward force of the load (center of gravity) within (above) the stability triangle keeps the forklift stable, which prevents the load from sliding off the forks. Knowing all this is the operator’s responsibility, and he or she must take into account this structure when considering the load or use. It is one reason OSHA requires refresher trainer for all forklift operators every three years, or whenever an operator is observed driving the equipment unsafely.
For information regarding forklift operations, including a checklist of what operators of the equipment must always do and what they should never do, visit http://www.scfaz.com, SCF Arizona’s website, and search for “Safe Operation of Forklift Trucks.”
SCF Arizona is the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, serving more than 42,000 businesses and more than 700,000 employees statewide. SCF has operated in Arizona for 85 years, holds $3.4 billion in assets and employs more than 500 people. SCF is headquartered in Phoenix and has offices in Flagstaff, Lake Havasu City, Prescott, Show Low, Tucson and Yuma
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