Cromer's 2015 Forklift Safety Checkpoints
We’ve addressed worker safety many times in our newsletter. Just as often as maintenance (maybe more). Everyone wants to avoid workplace accidents…and if we put in a little regular effort, we can spot workplace dangers before they become accidents.
Like last month’s newsletter, we’ve gathered up those safety articles in one place. You’ll find guidelines for spotting wear & tear on forklift parts, good practices for keeping the workplace accident-free, and which forklifts work fine outdoors.
Save this email for informing your safety inspections.
- Inspect Your Forks & Chains - What to Look Out For, and Why it Matters to Worker Safety
Like tires and batteries, a forklift’s forks and chains wear out eventually. This article is a complete how-to on testing your forks for safe use, what to look for when you inspect chains, and what to do with these parts when they need replacing. - Forklift Safety Training: Do I Have to Keep Taking it?
OSHA requires all employers to keep their forklift operators continually trained on safety. So does the State of California. Luckily, you can take one safety training course and satisfy both of them. Plus you’ll learn new safety procedures, and avoid potential fines. - Is it Safe to Use an Electric Forklift in the Rain?
There are forklifts which are safe to use in the rain. European manufacturers such as Jungheinrich worked to create a standard for equipment protection against water, solid particles and impacts. Jungheinrich forklifts are in fact completely waterproof—even their electrics! - How and When to Replace Forklift Tires Safely
Forklift tires incorporate a method for determining when it’s time to replace them. Use this article to find out when that is, depending on what type of forklift you use. We’ve also listed out the process for doing tire replacements (which can be done on-site). - Forklift Driver Engulfed in Flames - An Avoidable Accident
In 2013, Dailymail.co.uk posted a video showing a serious forklift accident. An improperly-secured propane tank fell off a moving forklift – and the forklift burst into flames. The very lucky driver was able to get away with only minor burns. But the entire accident was avoidable with proper tie-downs. Don’t make this same mistake. - Use Blue Lights on Your Forklifts to Keep Workers Safe
Our first safety article. One blue light on a forklift tells everyone where it’s going. It’s a cheap and powerful way to prevent accidents. So powerful that we mention them in our safety training courses. If your forklifts don’t have blue lights installed on them, call us & order some right away! - One final safety recommendation: When it’s time to replace LPG tanks, pick up Doosan composite LPG tanks. They work just like your regular LPG tanks, but they’re made of fiberglass composite. Which makes them much stronger, and much lighter. These tanks don’t explode in a fire. And they only weigh 7 pounds—much lighter than the 25 pounds a standard steel/aluminum tank weighs.
Oh, and they’re DOT-rated safe—even safer than regular tanks. Worth checking out. We have some of the Doosan LPG tanks on ForkliftBoss.com for $229.
Safety is a year-round concern. This is a topic we return to over & over, because we want to keep safety in the back of everyone’s mind. Our customers have great safety records – we at Cromer see it as part of our job to make sure they stay that way.
See you next month!
Marshall Cromer, The Forklift Boss
Cromer Material Handling