1. Use the right kit
As a general rule, electric warehouse equipment isn’t designed to be used outdoors. Before you go outside, check that your truck is OK for yard use.

2.Tidy defence.
A messy yard is a dangerous yard. Simple items like loose planks of wood can tip a forklift truck over – crushing or maiming the driver.

3. Pitch inspection.
Make sure the yard surface itself is well maintained. Potholes are another common cause of tipping accidents.

4. Solid at the back.
Before you take a forklift truck into the back of a lorry, check it’s secure and stable – will it take the combined weight of your truck and load?

5. A mountain to climb?
Gradients of any kind can be dangerous to forklift trucks – avoid them. If you can’t, go straight up or down, not sideways.

6. Watch your pace!
Crossing open spaces makes it tempting to overdo the throttle – don’t do it, and don’t let your colleagues do it either if you value your safety.

7. Taking corners.

Steer gently! Even at low speeds, a sharp turn can tip your forklift over.

8. Zonal marking.
Try to keep forklift trucks, lorries and pedestrians separated with traffic circuits and warning signs.

9.Flashy play?
Flashing lights and warning bleepers can be a good idea – but bear in mind they can also be a distraction.

10.Great vision.
It’s important you can see clearly where you’re going – so if you can’t see forward, travel in reverse or get a team-mate to act as observer.

11.Lethal in the box.
If you’re using a diesel or gas powered forklift truck in a confined space like a container, don’t let dangerous fumes build up.

12. Sub: Don’t score an own goal!
Make sure all your forklift trucks and equipment are properly maintained.         

MLA Holdings can provide further safety for your forklift operators this summer, with Mitsubishi’s optional installations of heavy duty dash fans. Many Mitsubishi forklifts can also be supplied with fully enclosed air-conditioned cabins.

Information from this article was sourced from www.forkliftbriefing.co.uk. For further forklift safety information contact MLA Holdings on 131 652 or www.mlaholdings.com.au.  

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·         Resilient Tyre - Resemble their pneumatic counterpart but are completely manufactured from rubber, no air. Also known as “Puncture Proof” there are differing designs, quality and materials available.

·         Press-On Cushion Tyre - Rubber directly vulcanised to a steel band that is subsequently “pressed-on” to a special wheel.

Methods of identifying tyre wear out

·         Pneumatic tyres wear out points can be identified in two ways:

§  Top of the 60J line

§  The tread depth indicator

o    Pneumatic tyres must have a minimum of 1mm of tread over the centre 75% of tread around its complete circumference.

·         Resilient tyres may be used until they are worn to the wear indicator, also known as the 60J line

·         Press-On Cushion Tyres may be used until 2/3rds of the original thickness remains or the wear limit is “top of the lettering”.

Smooth (Slick) Industrial Tyres

In several applications (Ports & Docks, Waste Transfer, Glass Recycling, Steel Yards etc.) the presence of a tread pattern results in significant tread cutting or damage. At these sites the use of smooth (slick) tyres has led to substantially improved wear rates (lower costs) without any detriment to safety.

Smooth tyres (on paved surfaces) actually have higher levels of grip, even when water is present (up to 15km/hr). The higher grip is a result of the greater contact surface area (tyre to road).

 It is incorrect to assume that tyres with no tread are dangerous or provide less traction, on paved (concrete or asphalt) surfaces.Where loose material is present a treaded pattern tyre will result in better grip than a smooth tyre, due to the tread actually engaging the ground surface.

The time to replace forklift tyres varies between types and operating conditions. One of the biggest risks is that tyres are taken for granted, not being inspected as often or thoroughly as needed for safe operation. The checking of all tyres is an important element of a forklift daily or pre-shift check. Tyre condition is also monitored as part of routine preventive maintenance. Action should be taken to replace damaged or worn tyres without delay.            

Information from this article was sourced from Bearcat Tyres Pty. Ltd. Call MLA now for an obligation free safety tyre inspection.

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How harm arises from sedentary work

The harm associated with prolonged occupational sitting is likely due to insufficient dynamic muscle activity, insufficient energy expenditure, insufficient movement, lack of postural variety, and diminished gravitational resistance.

What is considered excessive work related exposure?

Occupational sitting is common among workers, with one half of workers reporting sitting often or all of the time at work. Exposure to occupational sitting occurs across different industries and occupations.

There is no clear definition of excessive occupational sitting exposure. However, sitting for longer than 30 minutes without a mini-break, and sitting all day at work (being “too busy” to take a break) are likely to be detrimental to health. To date, assessment of occupational exposure has largely been focussed on office work environments, with limited evidence for exposure or interventions in non-office environments.

Ways to reduce prolonged sitting at work

A range of initiatives has been proposed to reduce prolonged sitting at work, including simple interventions that interrupt prolonged occupational sitting by substituting sitting with non-sedentary tasks, such as:

·         Switching to work on a computer at a standing workstation

·         Standing to read a document

·         Having a standing or walking meeting

·         Standing while talking on the phone

·         Walking to deliver a message to a colleague rather than emailing

In essence, employers and workers should aim for small and frequent changes from sitting as much as possible and less time sitting in total.

Information from this article was sourced from Safe work Australia - Sedentary Work - Evidence on an Emergent Work Health and Safety Issue.

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Statistics suggest that as many as two thirds of forklift accidents kill or injure someone who was not driving the truck at the time – meaning that anyone visiting or working at a business which uses a forklift truck could be at risk of injury... or worse.

Falling loads are a leading cause of fatalities involving forklift trucks – accounting for more than 40% of deaths – according to a 20-year accident study.

Every accident is a personal and commercial tragedy, which is why the subject of visibility is extremely high on the industry’s agenda.

Visionary Thinking

Traditionally, operators have been protected from falling objects by metal bars in the roof of the overhead guard. Although these structures form an effective barrier to larger objects, they do very little to stop smaller items. What’s more, they can present a significant obstacle to operator visibility.

The popular Mitsubishi family of reach trucks benefits from the revolutionary Visionmast, which allows operators to handle goods with precision and effortless ease. ‘Hot extrusion’ technology has allowed a unique construction in which the hydraulic cylinders are enclosed within the profile of the mast’s first stage. This adds extra stiffness to the mast, as well as providing a clearer view.

Features of a high visibility forklift

•  Hi-vis overhead guard roof for unobstructed upward views
• High visibility masts for clear forward vision
• Rear handle with horn button

Choosing a truck with good visibility can enhance your site’s safety and productivity.

When you choose a truck that maximises your operator’s visibility, you maximise his or her ability to manoeuvre safely and precisely, with confidence. In turn, every aspect of your operations will benefit from greater safety, foremost your employees, but also reduced product damage and enhanced productivity.

Information from this article was sourced from www.forkliftbriefing.com

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Battery electric forklifts use two types of batteries: nickel-iron and lead acid. Each of these batteries can pose serious health and safety hazards. These hazards occur due to three leading factors, the highly volatile gases emitted during charging, the sheer weight of the batteries and the corrosive chemicals that exist within the battery itself.

To minimise theses hazards and any risks of danger Safe Work Australia suggests that people involved in a battery charging or changing operation should consider the following safety precautions:

• Only people who have received proper training should be allowed to charge and change batteries on industrial lift trucks
• Forklifts should be in a stationary position and the parking brake applied before attempting to change the battery.
• Ensure there is a designated area for battery charging and changing
• The designated installation area should be a smoke free zone, with clear signs indicating this
• Do not use mobile phones or other electronic devices.
• Remove all metallic jewellery before recharging and do not use metal objects that might strike a spark near battery cells.
• Ensure that battery charging/changing stations are equipped with the necessary safety equipment
  
• Wear eye protection and other Personal Protective Equipment as required.
  
• It is important there are washing facilities including eye washing and cleaning-up facilities for removing acid spills. If acid is spilt a ‘spill kit’ should be on hand to remove the hazard.
  
• Charging and Changing areas should be ventilated so gases generated during battery charging are dispersed to prevent an explosive mixture developing
  

Additionally, it is essential that workplaces have safety procedures in place to ensure that they are able to deal with unexpected dangerous situations that may arise. If forklift batteries are not dealt with in a safe and appropriate manner they can become extremely hazardous. That is why, it is extremely important that the changing and charging of batteries are completed in accordance to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Information for this article was sourced from Safe Work Australia.For further forklift safety information contact MLA Holdings on 131 652 or www.mlaholdings.com.au.


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