This month let's look beyond the equipment and identify the potentially numerous hazards to equipment, operators, pedestrians, etc.
A short list of factors to consider, the list for your facility may have more:
1. Clutter in designated driveways - from solid objects to garbage.
2. Water on concrete/pavement
3. Pedestrians in driveways
4. Customers driving through driveways/parking lots.
5. Uneven driveways - broken or cracked concrete, potholes in pavement and/or dirt, etc.
Clutter - Between breakdown calls and issues found on maintenance,one of the most consistent causes of repair calls that I have known. One call involved a forklift fire - in a second hand store warehouse, the operator had driven the forklift over a pile of clothes on the floor, causing the clothes to "ride" up the rear tires and wedge in next to the exhaust pipe and muffler. Very fortunately for the employees there, the forklift had a fire extinguisher on board and they were able to put out the fire before it grew, and potentially reached the nearby propane tank. And I have lost count of all the times I have found shrink wrap or banding material wrapped in an axle! I'm sure it seems innocent enough to run over the top of these items - until that breakdown call has to be made! Everything from wheels, wheel bearings, steering, to brakes and brake lines are affected by garbage from the floor! Obviously, there is a hint here that operator training comes into play - I plan on covering this soon!
Water - Standing water on a driveway surface is a real issue with off highway equipment! Forklifts, tractors, etc. weigh at least twice as much as a car or "light truck", and react differently to driving situations. You may have experienced "hydroplaning" in a car - where the tires "are driving ON the water", causing a lack of steering control and a feeling of driving on ice. As the weight is doubled in this off highway equipment, so is the effect of hydroplaning! It is far more difficult to regain control in this situation, and usually less room to maneuver. I had a call in a warehouse for a post accident safety inspection a riding pallet jack. the operator lost control of the jack in standing water, and ran into the nearby pallet racking. The operator had his foot off of the standing deck next to the jacks "bumper" when contact with the rack happened, causing a severe injury. I found the jack to be in working order, which pointed the finger at the operator for the accident cause. It was a sad case for everyone involved. Out of doors, puddles in either dirt or pavement have caused their fair share of breakdown calls. The common misnomer that a puddle "is not that deep" causes many problems: equipment getting "high centered" in the puddle, and issues caused by the impact of "hitting" the pothole. On forklifts, lift chains, and over mast hoses and cables stretch rapidly, and OSHA has requirements in regard to lift chain stretch! (I will cover lift chains soon!) Lastly, splashing dirt/water into modern equipment jeopardizes electric components and wire connections (in every repair manual I have seen, "check connectors for water/dirt" is the first step in diagnostics).
Pedestrians - As mush as operators are trained to operate equipment, pedestrians should be trained to look out for equipment! Maintain an "ever vigilant" environment between operators and pedestrians, promote eye contact and NEVER ASSUME your surroundings. Properly mark pedestrian walkways with guard rails, barricades, and safety marking tape. Also mark designated equipment operating areas to keep pedestrians out of walkways. If your customers will be in areas where equipment is operating, it is imperative to temporarily close off isles! I am not sure if this is a requirement (OSHA or otherwise) at this time, I will update after I research this.
Customers - The greatest variable to your safety program! Signage is key to short term education on your particular safe practises. Consider customer traffic flow in your facility, and if updates are needed to make everyone safer. Beyond that, train your staff to be VERY cautious and aware when working around customers. A video recently posted on Facebook by our friends at Toyota Lift of Minnesota captures the reality of this issue:
Be Aware and Wary When Working Around Forklift Trucks
Uneven driveways - Uneven driveways cause the same damage as potholes and more. One puddle can usually be avoided, an entire driveway cannot! Uneven driveways cause "all day, every day" wear and tear on your equipment, and OPERATORS! Frequent breakdown calls to L&I claims should be weighed in the cost analysis of paving/repaving driveways!
Thank you all for your time and patronage this year!
If you have any comments about this topic or suggestions for future topics, please feel free to contact us!
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MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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