Reduce Fatalities with Forklift Safety for Cannabis Operators

Most cannabis cultivation centers as well as some retail outposts will have one or more forklifts to aid in material management. Forklifts are extremely valuable in the movement of supplies and pallets. However, they can also be extremely dangerous.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 87 people die and more than 7,000 are non-fatally injured in forklift accidents each year. This results in workers taking a median of 13 days away from work, higher than the median of 8 days for all accident cases.1

Under OSHA’s Powered Industrial Truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178), employers are required to provide training on the specific types of forklifts used in their workplace. Retraining of employees is also required every three years or in the event of an accident, near miss, or if they observe a lift truck being used unsafely.

Creating effective driver forklift training

According to OSHA, no one can sit on a forklift unless they have been trained and have a current forklift license. Similarly, no one under the age of 18 can drive a forklift.

When deciding how to run your forklift training program, some will choose to receive driver training from their forklift vendor, others may choose a qualified third party certifier and a third category of businesses may decide to develop their own training program based on the OSHA standard.

HUB recommends developing a cadre of in-house trainers to conduct forklift training. This is often the most cost-effective process as well.

The following operational best practices should form the basis for your forklift training program:

• Always operate the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Always wear a seatbelt
• Be sure all trailers are chocked and dock ramps/plates secure
• Never exceed the rated load and ensure it is stable and balanced
• Do not raise or lower the load while traveling
• Keep a safe distance from platform and ramp edges
• Be aware of other vehicles in the work area
• Have clear visibility of the work area to ensure enough clearance when raising, loading and operating a forklift
• Use proper footing and the handhold, if available, when entering the lift
• Use horns at cross aisles and obstructed areas
• Watch for pedestrians and observe the speed limit
• Do not give rides or use the forks to lift people