Forklift trucks and other movable equipment safety in our industry is very important. There have been several incidents this year. Every movable equipment presents it's own different operating hazards. Nevertheless, movable equipment and pedestrians need to be segregated. Here is a recent story:
A recycling firm, which ignored warnings about safety in United Kingdom, has been sentenced after a worker was struck by a forklift truck in 2010.
The truck was carrying a large bale of crushed aluminium cans when it the workers as he walked across the warehouse floor at the site. The worker suffered damage to his ankles and feet.
The Magistrates Court heard that HSE inspectors had given the site advice about improving the vehicle and pedestrian segregation four months before the incident. Workers at the plant had also previously raised concerns about the issue.
The court was told forklift trucks were regularly used in the warehouse, but there was not an adequate system in place to keep vehicles away from pedestrians.
The recycling firm pleaded guilty to a breach of the Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations 1992 by failing to ensure workers and vehicles could move safely around the site. The company was find close to $10,000.
An HSE Inspector after the hearing said "the site received previous warnings from HSE and its own workers about how vehicles operated in the warehouse, but it failed to act on these. The company didn't carry out a proper assessment of the risks and, as a result, there was no system for keeping forklift trucks away from pedestrians."
The HSE inspector concluded "it has since made significant improvements and forklifts can now operate safely within the warehouse."
Plants need to have a written traffic management plan. Which takes into account segregating workers from movable equipment. There are many ways that can be achieved. Some facilities have line markings on the floor designating where pedestrians are allowed to walk.
Unfortunately, too many times pedestrians walk where they should not. Line painting is not a physical barrier to pedestrians.
Physical permanent barriers with gates provide better protection then line markings in preventing pedestrian and movable equipment from coming into contact.
Plants need to have a written traffic management plan. Which takes into account segregating workers from movable equipment. There are many ways that can be achieved. Some facilities have line markings on the floor designating where pedestrians are allowed to walk.
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| Line marking |
Unfortunately, too many times pedestrians walk where they should not. Line painting is not a physical barrier to pedestrians.
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| Physical Barrier |
OSHA's forklift information can be found: here
HSE's forklift information can be found: here
Reader Question:
How does your plant deal with movable equipment and pedestrians?
a) Line markings
b) Permanent barriers
c) Other (explain).
Here I get great info about forklift trucks with use in move equipment safety in any industry. I like this recent story. Its too good.
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