Forklifts are one of the most dangerous equipment used in Melbourne workplaces. Unsafe forklift usage could be dangerous and can have adverse effects on the businesses and the families of those affected by forklift related incidents. Forklift incidents can be fatal – statistics reveal that in a 20 year period, 1995 to 2005, 54 forklift related fatalities have been reported to Worksafe Victoria.
Safe use of forklifts is not just a precautionary step but also a part of your regulatory requirements. As suggested in one of the WorkSafe Victoria’s forklift safety guidelines, one would place tight controls on heavy vehicles such as dump truck travelling around the workplace, and the same is expected in the case of forklift.
WorkSafe Victoria also suggests that a zero tolerance approach will be taken towards the unsafe use of forklifts. The businesses using shortcuts and ignoring the safety of forklift operators and those around them can expect WorkSafe to act swiftly and enforce compliance in line with workplace health and safety laws.
Most forklift incidents are avoidable with sufficient safety measures in place.
Minimising forklift Instability Risk
WorkSafe Victoria has classified overturning as the leading cause of deaths involving forklifts. The overturning incidents account for one in six deaths related to forklift incidents. WorkSafe specifies the following items as the main reasons for overturn:
- Excessive speed
- Sharp turns
- Travelling across an incline or uneven ground
- Travelling with a raised load
- Carrying a load forwards down a slope
- Carrying an unevenly balanced load
It is important to be aware of the risk so that you can take necessary precautions when such a situation arises. The lifting capacity, the maximum load supported by a lift, and vertical lift travel are the most important forklift specifications to prevent forklift instability incidents.