Forklift Safety No Laughing Matter When Unloading Yard Ramps

Forklifts or powered industrial trucks are such an integral tool to warehouses that they’re almost like the air workers breathe – taken for granted. A forklift is a powerful tool that allows a single person to lift and move large heavy loads, such as a yard ramp. But there are risks with a forklift.

According to the state of Washington Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) 2007, every year nearly 100 workers are killed and 20,000 are seriously injured in forklift mishaps.

Aside from the obvious safety hazard of lifting any heavy materials above your head, there’s also the necessity of properly training potential forklift operators about the units controls, emergency situations, and start-up/shut down procedures.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have created multiple articles specifically relating to operating a forklift safely. One of the articles I came across centers on reducing hazards relating to a forklift while another article offers various ways OSHA can help keep a safe workplace.

If your company employs various forklifts or powered industrial trucks, keeping both your employees safe and properly trained is the right path. One of the fastest rising pieces of equipment that uses forklifts to load and unload is yard ramps, used by companies who need to unload a freight truck but do not have a dock. Other uses are loading and unloading pallets of materials from shelving units and mounting an attachment to clear snow in the winter months.

To learn more about forklift safety and procedures, see the Handi-Ramp knowledge base regarding yard ramp operation.