Preventable forklift accidents

Those who have worked within a warehouse before understand the importance of safety. This is especially important for those who operate a forklift on a daily basis. In fact, Colorado and other states have laws in place on how a forklift should be operated and who can operate one of these machines. Unfortunately, that does not mean that there are no accidents reported each year. There are some steps that you can take to prevent common forklift accidents from occurring at your place of employment.

Training is key

The fact is that the best way to avoid workplace injuries from occurring is by placing training at the forefront of a business. How the training is administered should not be solely on what the company thinks is right, but also on what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration states is key to avoiding workplace accidents.

Perform weekly maintenance checks

No matter how safely you handle the forklift, the fact is that you will only be as safe as the condition of the machine itself. That is why it is so important to complete a weekly maintenance check of the forklift. This checklist should not only include broken items but those which will need to be replaced soon.

Knowing load limitations

According to OSHA, one of the most important things you need to know is your particular machine’s load limitation. Unfortunately, many of the injuries that occur are the result of improper loading. Thus it is critical to check your particular forklift’s user manual.

As you can see from the above information, there are many ways to prevent forklift accidents from occurring in the workplace. However, the reality is that accidents will happen. If you are injured in one, an attorney could be helpful during your quest to obtain your rightful workers’ compensation benefits.

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