Forklift Accidents: Causes, Prevention, and How Work Safety Training Can Help
For those who work in construction sites, warehouses, or manufacturing plants across British Columbia (BC), operating and being around forklifts are just a part of their daily operations. However, forklifts are one of the most dangerous pieces of machinery in the workplace, and the stats don’t lie. Every year, a staggering 96,000 minor and severe forklift-related injuries are estimated, with an average of 85 being fatal. These injuries are not just of forklift operators; pedestrians (other workers nearby) also get caught in dangerous situations and suffer serious life-changing injuries.
This information shows that there are still many safety issues in workplaces and why it is necessary to have work safety training and emergency first aid training. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of forklift accidents and how work safety training can help BC businesses and workers prevent them in the future.
What Causes of Forklift Accidents?
Several factors at play lead to forklift accidents, such as rollovers, pedestrian impacts, falling loads, and mechanical failures. However, at the top of the list is the lack of training of the forklift operator. Personnel who do not understand the mechanics of a forklift and how to safely manoeuvre it put themselves and everyone around them in grave danger. Untrained forklift operators are more likely to make preventable mistakes, such as:
● Incomplete forklift checks
● Speeding
● Wrong turning techniques
● Lack of communication with others during shared tasks
● Driving with an elevated load
● Ignoring safety regulations
Other issues leading to forklift accidents include incomplete inspection, poor machinery maintenance, and inadequate protection measures around the facility, such as impact barriers, wall-mounted mirrors and designated pedestrian pathways.
How to Avoid Forklift Accidents
Work safety organisations worldwide agree forklift accidents can be reduced by 70% with proper work safety training. BC worker regulations require workers to complete specialised forklift training for this very reason. A properly trained forklift operator not only drives a forklift safely and cautiously, but they recognise faulty forklift parts, improper loading, and other possible hazards around a facility even before getting into the driver’s seat. This level of awareness can prevent serious harm in any workplace.
Along with work safety training, forklift operators gain other vital skills from emergency first aid training. BC businesses are recognising the importance of having workers on the floor with proper first aid knowledge and how it can save lives.
Workplace Safety Courses in BC
Here at Metro Safety Training, we offer an immersive and extensive four-phase forklift training course. Our qualified instructors will educate you on all you need to know about forklift mechanics and operations while guiding you through proper inspection standards and how to handle emergencies. This theoretical knowledge is implemented with plenty of hands-on training to ensure participants understand proper techniques.
Enrolling in this course along with our certified Worksafe BC occupational first aid level 1 will ensure you are fully prepared to handle any forklift emergency, minimising the risk to yourself and others around you.
