The New Year – the perfect time to prioritise forklift safety

By PR

As the new year begins, now is the perfect time for industries using forklifts to prioritise safety and prevent common mistakes made by forklift operators.

According to Shaun Collins, Chief Operating Officer of Masslift Africa, the sole distributor of Mitsubishi forklifts in Southern Africa, “At Masslift Africa, we are committed to providing our customers with high-performing, cost-efficient, and robust forklifts that they can trust. But we also know that safety is a top priority, which is why we are dedicated to educating our customers on best practices and helping them avoid common mistakes made by forklift operators.”

Some simple steps that industries can take to improve forklift safety in the new year include:

• must be valid and passed.
• Operators must have a valid license to operate the equipment.  
• Ensure the full daily checklist is completed between each shift.
• Perform a daily check of all tyres to ensure they are in good working condition.
• Following recommended speed limits set by your company to reduce the risk of accidents.
• Check the battery levels and cables regularly to prevent issues.
• Ensuring that brakes are always in proper working condition.
• Using indicators to signal turning direction and using hand signals as a backup if necessary.
• Knowing the maximum capacity of the forklift, and the weight and length of the load, as not to overload the forklift.
• Wearing protective gear like hard hats, safety glasses, and high visibility clothing.
• Avoiding distractions like texting or using a phone while driving.
• Following proper operating procedures, such as securing loads properly, driving with the load against the front face of the forks as not to ‘tip handle’ and never driving with the forks more than 30cm off the ground.

By implementing these safety measures and being mindful of common mistakes, industries can create a safer work environment, reduce the risk of accidents, and improve productivity in the new year.