Forklifts or pallet trucks have many benefits for your business. It gives your business a high level of productivity. Another advantage of forklift trucks is the reduced human labor, and improved safety. In warehouses, mills, shipping yards, railway terminals, and other workplaces around, many businesses use forklifts to shift heavy weights from here to there. Since employment involves working with large & heavy materials, worker injuries and deaths are always possible. Untrained drivers and disregard for safety precautions are also the causes of these losses. You can mitigate risk by adequate training to operate safely.
With injuries and fatalities, forklifts can ruin your career. People can face difficulties such as fractures, bruising, contusions, sprains, tears, soreness, pain, cuts, lacerations, punctures, multiple traumatic injuries, and many more if they do not have sufficient forklift training and safety guidance.
Therefore, minimizing risks and completing the task is essential. In light of this, this article will go through general forklift training and license requirements and explain how they can help you run your work smoothly and effectively.
Forklift training & dangers to be aware of
A high spatial awareness, attention to detail, practical operating skills, hydraulic controls, ability to co-operate effectively, mechanical parts inspection procedures, ability to use and manage equipment, knowledge of navigation, and health and safety. It shows that you can operate a forklift without endangering yourself or others.
To operate a forklift, you need a high-risk work permit. Under the qualified supervision of a person holding the same high-risk work license, you must undergo training from a Registered Training Organization. Remember that Registered Training Organizations (RTOs) provide logbooks to keep track of your training information. Your training records attest to the theoretical and practical training you’ve received.
The most frequent forklift accidents are overturning, slips, and falls, accounting for 25% of all forklift accidents. But the greatest thing is that we can reduce it. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), it could avoid nearly 70% of forklift accidents in Australia if businesses adopted stricter training practices.
Forklift Safety Measures
To move, lift, and stack heavy loads, forklifts are only the solutions. As a result, the time and effort required to lift, move, and transport materials is reduced, which is advantageous for projects requiring large quantities of materials in numerous locations. However, carrying out this task entails yearly deaths and injuries, resulting from which businesses, industry, and society confront financial difficulties and human expenses for employees and families. You can avoid such forklift accidents, so don’t worry. To keep workers safe, use these useful forklift safety measures:
- Use guardrails or barriers.
- should mark worker safety zones, floors, and walkways, and they must be strictly adhered to
- Transport only loads you are familiar with in terms of load limits, turning radius, and best safety practices. Use a pallet for heavy items or an attachment if necessary.
- Forklift operators must wear appropriate clothing and seatbelt and maintain 360° visibility.
- Employees, visitors, and delivery trucks should strictly adhere to the traffic management strategy and site safety regulations.
- Deep observation requires fueling, maneuvering, speed, blind spots, and floor conditions.
How important is Forklift Training & license
We notice that poorly trained drivers cause most forklift accidents, including injuries, product damage, and deaths. Because of this, if you think a forklift is a dangerous piece of equipment, then it is unacceptable. Only operators with proper training and certification as forklift drivers should use forklifts. Forklift training and licensing are important because:
Less chance of accidents: Performance across the board for the business is impacted by safety; decreasing forklift accidents help increase output. Companies employing licensed and trained workers guarantee a low chance of workplace accidents and injuries.
Save costs and enhance production: In addition to putting your employees’ safety at risk, forklift accidents can also result in expensive machine damage. Over time, little blemishes can grow into much larger issues, raising the cost of production. Forklift repair is occasionally necessary to get them back in good operating order. A forklift operator needs the appropriate training and license to save costs and enhance production.
Trained and licensed operators follow the law: According to OSHA, most workplace deaths are caused by collisions, lifting weights, tip-overs, and poor safety procedures. The company can avoid these errors if they determine a candidate’s ability to operate a powered lift truck effectively.
Reduce the Chance of Accidents and Injuries: Operating a forklift truck is difficult. However, having the finest understanding of how to operate a forklift is essential for every driver. A forklift driver must adhere to safety procedures, such as identifying potential hazards, being thoroughly aware of the different types of high loads, and maintaining the vehicle’s stability.
Forklift License in Australia
Getting a forklift license in Australia is a straightforward process. WorkCover/WorkSafe issues the license. If you wish to apply for Forklift training in Australia, enroll in a course offered by a Registered Training Organisation. Before applying for it, you must establish your identity by obtaining 100 points of evidence of identity (EOI).
If you are: You can get your forklift license:
- You must be 18 years old to obtain a forklift license in Australia
- Going through an RTO after completing your training program from a registered training institution is essential
- You have to live in Australia. For a foreigner, citizenship documentation is necessary
- USI, or unique student identifier, is required
- Communication is important. Australia’s official language is English
Easy Method to Apply for a Forklift License in Australia:
- Enroll in a licensed RTO in your area and complete the training there
- You must prepare for the written and practical exams after the training course
- The designated trainer must see the evaluation
- After succeeding, you get the statement of information about receipt and assessment
- You must present your EOI document individually at a participating Australia post location and other essential documents such as evaluation, application form, and cost. WorkCover/WorkSafe accepts your application
- You will get your license three weeks after mailing in your application
Also Read: How to Get a Forklift License?
Forklifts that Don’t Require A License To Operate
A compact forklift with an electric engine is called a no-drive license forklift. It is made to move bulky objects like metal sheets or logs efficiently. Several forklift types available don’t require a license to operate. However, we will highlight a few of them below:
Walkie-Stacker Forklift: The walkie-stacker forklift is used in the industrial, warehousing, and manufacturing industries. Forklifts are run by pedestrians, usually in the service sector, such as restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments.
Counterbalanced stackers: It is simple to install and needs less upkeep. Its huge storage capacity ensures that it has powerful, enduring power.
Legless reach walkie stackers: For warehousing solutions, it works best. It has a tilting carriage as standard equipment and electric power steering.
Legal Responsibility in Australia
In Australia, specific guidelines should go strictly to both employers and employees.
– For Employer: If you run a business, it is your responsibility to give your employees what they need:
- A safe work environment
- A system with safe work practices
- Safe and maintained machinery
- It is necessary to provide instructions, supervision, and accurate information
– For Employee
- Implement safe work practices, including any reasonable direction, instruction, or information provided
- Improve co-workers’ safety by cooperating with the PCBU
- Do not endanger both yourself and your co-workers
- Inform authorities of any hazards
- Use only proper safety equipment as directed
Role of Manufacturer and Supplier in reducing the risk
Manufacturers and suppliers are essential in lowering the risk because they inform workplaces about the capabilities and restrictions of forklifts. Manufacturing is responsible for removing forklift concerns throughout the design phase. Several reasons demonstrate that manufacturers and suppliers play the most significant role in lowering risk:
Suppliers or Manufacturers must provide information on the following:
- They inform about any hazards associated with forklifts
- They ensure the forklift conditions so operators can use them correctly and safely.
- They provide the correct and safe use of any attachments
- Provides specific workplace conditions to meet the forklift needs.
- Includes maintenance and forklift service
On-Site Safety Issues & Mistakes a Forklift Driver should avoid
Drivers should know all forklift safety issues and mistakes when working on-site. There are several risks associated with using a forklift that the driver should avoid, including:
Poorly maintained attachments: worn-out tires, rust chains, or any faulty attachment driver should avoid using them.
Impeded view: Blind spots or impeded views should be completely avoided. If caution is not rigorously observed, it may result in serious injury.
Dock and ramp: Empty docks, or wide docks, but there is no cargo truck trailer on them, should be avoided by forklift operators as they provide a big risk to their safety.
Fuel-filling sites: Fire or explosion may occur due to incorrect handling of highly combustible substances such as diesel and propane. So do not use cigarettes or instruments that spark at fuel-filling sites.
Overloading and unsecured loads: By extending more, the forklift loses its balance and poses a severe risk.
Things to consider during forklift operation (safety measures)
While running the forklift, a driver should strictly follow the safety measure that is below:
Load capacity – It is necessary to keep in mind the load capacity. When the weight is loaded, the power should determine whether the equipment can lift that weight.
Height – It is important to assess the height while lodging the load because sometimes, while loading on the machinery, the height of the cargo can be so high that the forklift operators cannot see anything, causing accidents.
Speed – When operating a forklift, it is important to remember that the speed should not exceed the specified limit; otherwise, it may raise the risk of an accident.
Slip, Trip or fall – The forklift includes injuries such as slips, trips, and walls when further closed.
Stop distance – must use forklift brakes properly, or they could cause the forklift to tip forward or lose its load.
Knowledge of Sign – Keep in mind that you are running a forklift and know all the signs that reduce risk.
Forklift Service – It is important to provide regular forklift services, including repair, overhaul, inspection, and other lifting equipment.
Forklift safety tips to be remember
When operating a forklift at work, safety comes first. There are some risks and hazards associated with forklifts, so it’s important to keep these workplace forklift safety recommendations in mind:
- Trained and licensed forklift operator
- Check regular lights steering wheels, and other equipment
- Keep contact with the eyes while working at night, outside and where additional lighting is required
- Applying floor marking system
- Keep a safe distance from other machinery
Improve your forklift service
A smart place to start is to buy or hire a forklift from a reputed supplier. However, there is no denying that the operator is the most important element in terms of security. Operators are better preserved by death, harm, and property damage but proper training reduces the risk of accident rate by 30%.
