Traveling

There are several hazards and potentially dangerous scenarios that an operator can encounter and even contribute to while traveling with their forklift. This may include unfamiliarity with the workplace, stability-related hazards, visibility issues, pedestrians and traffic, limited space and distances, and excessive speed among other things.

There are several steps that an operator is required to take while traveling in order to mitigate hazards and reduce the likelihood of being involved in or contributing to an incident.

Here are some of the most common things you’ll need to observe during the practical evaluation:

Wears the Seat Belt Consistently

While there may be some circumstances in unique workplaces that require seat belts NOT to be used, in most workplaces, they are a requirement.

One of the most important functions that a seatbelt can provide is keeping an operator in the cab during a forklift tip-over event. As you learned earlier, operators getting crushed when their forklift tips over and they end up outside the cab and under the equipment is the top cause of fatal forklift-related incidents.

Sometimes operators can apply their seat belt when first getting into the cab, but then later remove the restraint while traveling.

You should periodically check that an operator’s seat belt or restraint is properly secured throughout the duration of the evaluation.

Keeps Body Within Operator Cab Always

Operators should never have any of their body parts outside of the operator’s cab. Doing so can significantly increase the risk of suffering from a crushing or impact injury.

Often, operators will put one hand on the overhead guard support while backing up in a similar way when backing up a car. In many cases, this puts their hand outside of the operator’s cab. This is usually due to habit, and you should be on the lookout for this, as well as other bad habits throughout the duration of the evaluation.

Looks in Direction of Travel Before and While Moving

Looking in the direction of travel while on a forklift seems like something obvious and intuitive, however, operators can develop bad habits that result in them sometimes or often not looking in the direction of travel.

One area where the habit tends to develop is when an operator is making smaller movements, possibly when positioning a load. The operator will look back while reversing for a longer distance, but when making an adjustment to the position of the load while backing up for a shorter distance, will not look back.

The above scenario can have detrimental consequences under the right circumstances including equipment or structural damage to a builder, or worse, striking or crushing a pedestrian.

Ensure that you take note of this throughout the entire evaluation and observe where the operator is looking during all directions of travel.

Works in Accordance with all Travel Guidelines

Operators should always work in accordance with the company’s specific guidelines relating to traveling in a forklift. This includes adhering to all warning signs, floor load limits, and overhead clearances.

Further, operators should always ensure that there are no obstructions or pedestrians in their path of travel at all times.

Uses Equipment Lighting in Dark Areas

If you have low lit areas at your workplace or your operators are required to perform functions outside where lighting is not ideal, your equipment should have additional lighting.

Throughout the evaluation, the operator should consistently use the equipment lighting in areas with less than sufficient lighting

Travels with Loads Raised and Titled Back Only Enough to Stabilize the Load

Operators should always travel with their forklifts in the lowest position possible that the load, environment, and other variables will allow.

An unnecessarily raised fork carriage can not only alter the stability of the forklift while traveling, but it also can increase the probability of the forklifts contacting and puncturing objects, or worse, a person.

This is one of the most common bad habits that can be seen with operators, and it’s extremely likely that you may encounter this throughout your evaluation.

Stops, Starts, and Makes Direction Changes Smoothly

Starting, stopping, and turning should be consistently performed in a smooth and controlled manner.

When an operator brakes abruptly, turns sharp, or accelerates quickly, the stability of the equipment can easily become compromised resulting in a tip-over incident.

Operators will improve as they gain experience, though, a safe level of “smoothness” must be demonstrated during the practical evaluation.

Slows or Stops as Necessary at Intersections and Blind Corners

The operator should always slow down or stop and sound the forklift’s horn at blind spots, aisle intersections, and blind corners.

The specific procedures will depend on the workplace’s guidelines. As mentioned throughout this lesson, it’s extremely helpful to have the workplaces procedures in advance so that you can measure the operator’s performance against them.

Leaves Space for Stopping When Following Another Vehicle

Operators should maintain a safe distance when traveling behind another vehicle in the same direction. Specific distances should be determined by the company and are based on several factors.

20 feet to three+ forklift lengths are commonly used as a default minimum following distance in many workplaces.

Avoids and Removes Debris, Avoids Holes and Uneven Ground

Debris, potholes, edges, uneven ground, and other obstructions/objects should always be avoided by an operator.

Impacting or driving over these objects can result in damage to the forklift and significantly reduce the life of certain components, ultimately resulting in potentially unsafe circumstances.

Travels in Reverse When Vision is Too Obstructed to Travel Forward

If a load obstructs an operator’s vision while traveling forward, they should travel in reverse instead. If the operator continues to have visibility issues, they should get the assistance of a spotter before traveling.

The likelihood and frequency of this occurring will greatly depend on the type of products and loads that the operator is required to handle.

If possible, at some point in the evaluation you can ask the operator to pick up a load that will obstruct their vision and observe how they proceed.