Pedestrians

It’s obvious that one of the most important responsibilities that a forklift operator has is to work around pedestrians in the safest possible manner. Basically, operators should never operate the equipment in a way that will increase the risk of injury to pedestrians.

You should pay close attention to your operator’s behavior around pedestrians throughout the entire evaluation.

You can also make notes on the pedestrian section of the checklist as you deem appropriate and then document the final score for each pedestrian item at the conclusion of the evaluation.

Here are some of the main things to watch for:

Slows Down and Sounds Audible Warning Devices for Pedestrians When Required

While an operator should never be traveling at a high rate of speed, the rate of speed should be even lower when operating around pedestrians.

Additionally, the operator should activate any audible warning devices around pedestrians where required and even in areas where pedestrians might be located. For example, an operator must activate the forklift’s horn or other audible devices when traveling around corners and other blind spots where pedestrians may be located.

As mentioned previously, it’s important to pay close attention to your operators level of awareness relating to pedestrians throughout the entire evaluation.

Establishes Eye Contact with Pedestrians

Operators should make every effort to establish eye contact with pedestrians in various scenarios. For example, if a pedestrian is walking in an adjacent walkway in the general direction of the forklift, making eye contact with the pedestrian will help to ensure that they are aware of the forklift traveling adjacent to them.

In similar cases, pedestrians who are unaware of a piece of equipment in close proximity to them may inadvertently walk in front of the piece equipment and increase their chances of getting struck.

The risks related to the above will greatly be determined by the specific workplace that the operator is working in. This is why it’s incredibly important to assess the specific work environment and determine what applicable hazards exist and what measures must be taken and communicated.

Does Not Allow Pedestrians to Come Near While Operating the Equipment and Never Allows Pedestrian to Cross Beneath Loads or Forks

The closer a pedestrian is to a piece of equipment, the higher the likelihood that they can become struck by the equipment or it’s load, resulting in a potentially catastrophic injury.

Throughout the evaluation, your operator should consistently not allow pedestrians to approach the forklift while it’s in operation.

There are scenarios where a supervisor or other individual may need to speak to the operator. In these cases, the operator should lower a load into a safe position, stop all functions, and ensure there is no risk for movement when the employee or supervisor approaches. This should be done in accordance with the workplace’s specific procedures and guidelines.

Remains Aware of Rear End Swing

As we discussed in the forklift fundamentals lesson, forklifts operate very differently than cars and other automobiles. One of the most notable differences is the ability for the rear end to swing during turns.

It is essential that operators remain aware of their rear end swing at all times and ensure that no equipment, structures, and especially pedestrians are in the pathway of the swing prior to initiating turns.

There have been incidents where pedestrians have been crushed due to the operator not being aware of their rear end swing.

The operator should look in the direction of the rear end swing prior to turning to help ensure they do not strike an object or pedestrian.

Ensure that you’re mindful of this throughout the evaluation and that the operator looks in the direction of rear end swing EVERY time. Failure to look just once can have catastrophic results.

Does Not Allow Passengers to Ride on Equipment

Passengers should never be allowed to ride on equipment as it creates a significant risk to both the passenger as well as the operator. This is applicable regardless of the length and duration of the ride.