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A 26-year-old knitting machine operator needed to make an adjustment to the machine. The machine had interlocks that stopped it when its safety gate was opened—but the interlocks were easily disabled, and the worker simply stuck a needle in the “on” button so that he could open the gates and adjust the machine while it […]
A 52-year-old welder was removing a jammed piece of metal from the hydraulic door of a scrap metal shredder but did not de-energize and lock out the shredder first. He also failed to release the residual hydraulic energy in the system and block the door open.
In July 2014, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) leveled $308,435 in proposed fines against NFI, a warehouse operator in Mira Loma, California. What had NFI done to merit such a stiff penalty? The company had failed to correct conditions at its workplace that put pedestrians and forklifts together in dangerous ways.
Yesterday, we discussed some of the hazards that are created when pedestrians work in close proximity to forklifts. Today, we’ll look at some work practices that pedestrians can use to stay safe when they’re crossing paths with powered industrial trucks.
Yesterday, we looked at forklift maintenance—particularly, at the training required for workers who perform repair and maintenance on forklifts. Today, we’ll look at a few more requirements that might apply, as well as some rules for maintenance locations and replacement parts. Additional Training for Forklift Maintenance Workers Some topics are specific to forklifts, but other […]
When it comes to forklift safety, a lot of emphasis is placed on operators and their training. But maintenance is also critical to forklift safety—and workers who perform forklift repairs and maintenance face hazards that must be addressed with worker training and attention to the work environment. Identifying Maintenance Issues There are two ways to […]
OSHA’s lockout/tagout standard [29 CFR 1910.147] requires employers and employees to take proper steps to prevent unexpected machine startup accidents.
By Tom Reddon Rough terrain forklifts require the right operators to handle them or it can lead to serious accidents. The workhorses are designed to handle heavy loads and operate on challenging terrain. Most rough terrain forklift accidents are caused by operator error. The right training procedures can help your employees understand how to carefully […]
Do your employees know how to conduct a walkaround as part of a preoperational forklift inspection? The first step toward safe forklift operation is conducting the preoperational inspection. Forklift operators should conduct the inspection at the start of each work shift to ensure that the forklift will work properly. According to OSHA, 1 in 15 […]
Prevent deadly forklift tipover accidents by ensuring operators are properly trained to recognize hazardous situations and circumstances. Antonio Toro was preparing to move large bundles of steel at a flood control project. As he positioned his forklift, it tipped, pinning him. By the time emergency responders reached him, Toro was dead. Forklifts are designed to […]