CITE's Workplace Safety Blog

A man was killed on Friday when a telehandler attachment, or fork carriage, broke free and dropped on him at a hotel construction site in Rochester, Minnesota.

Originally published by Vertikal.net: https://www.vertikal.net/en/news/story/22253

OSHA requires that all persons who use any powered (battery or internal combustion engine) materials handling equipment must be certified before they use the equipment and recertified every 3 years after initial certification.

So what happens if your company doesn’t recertify an employee?

Powered industrial trucks can either be ridden by the operator or controlled by a walking operator. There are many types of powered industrial trucks. Each type presents different operating hazards. For example, a sit-down, counterbalanced high-lift rider truck is more likely than a motorized hand truck to be involved in a falling load accident because the sit-down rider truck can lift a load much higher than a hand truck.

Nearly 100 workers are killed each year in the United States as a result of forklift-related incidents. The situation calls for clear communication to the right person, at the right time, and at exactly the right location — especially at the loading dock where forklifts and pedestrians often are on a collision course. Forklift drivers also need to be aware of what's happening at all times during the fast-paced semi trailer loading and unloading process.

Fortunately, communication-related technologies and best practices have evolved to reduce the risks of forklift-pedestrian collisions and other catastrophic accidents at the loading dock. Now is the time to understand the issues involved and what can be done at the dock to improve communication and increase safety for forklift operators and pedestrians.