Forklift Attachment Safety Guidelines

Keeping Your Work Environment Safe by ensuring Forklift Attachment Safety is Properly Followed

 

Forklift attachments can help produce efficiency within the work environment.  However, when using a forklift attachment, it is important to recognize the potential forklift safety hazards that can occur.  Because forklifts by themselves are already considered a dangerous device within their work environment, proper care and caution needs to be considered for forklift attachments as well.

#1 Proper Training

Whenever a new forklift attachment is introduced, the operator should be properly trained on how to use it.  Even if the forklift operator is already trained in using a forklift, forklift attachments completely transform the way the forklift operates.  Therefore, it is critical they learn the new changes and potential safety risks the new forklift attachment produces.

#2 Using only Approved Forklift Attachments for Your Forklift

Each forklift is unique in size and features.  Therefore, it is critical that you use any forklift attachments that are compatible with your forklift.  To accommodate for the wide variety of forklifts available today, forklift attachments come in a wide variety of sizes.  Sometimes forklift attachments are made only for a specific brand or model of a forklift.  Therefore, it is essential that any forklift attachment used should be looked into to ensure that it is compatible with your forklift.  One of the best ways to ensure you are getting the proper forklift attachment is checking with the forklift manufacturer for approved forklift attachments for your forklift.

#3 Proper Documentation of Forklifts

When a forklift attachment is installed onto a forklift, it substantially changes the functionality and capacities of the forklift.  According to OSHA, whenever an attachment is installed onto a forklift, the forklift must be properly documented for it’s new change in weight.  Additionally the forklift should be documented for new weight and elevation restrictions.  These should be visible to the operator so they are aware of the new capacities to ensure proper usage to reduce risk of forklift casualty.

#4 Balancing of Forklift

One of the biggest safety risks associated with forklifts is the fact that they can easily tilt over.  Therefore balancing of the forklift after a forklift attachment is installed should be highly considered.  Checking with a forklift consultant or a licensed industrial truck mechanic can help ensure your forklift attachment does not pose risk to potential tilting of the forklift.

#5 proper Mounting of Forklift

Proper mounting of forklift attachment is needed to avoid possible risk of injury or damage to the forklift, attachment, or material being transported.  It is critical that each operator knows the proper method of mounting any forklift attachment.

#6 Proper Inspection of Forklift Attachment

An operator of a forklift is required to do an inspection each time before using a forklift.  Operators are normally required to fill out an inspection checklist before even using the forklift.  Whenever a forklift attachment is used, it should also be included in the inspection process and properly documented on the inspection checklist.  Because each forklift attachment operates differently, the type of inspections that needs to be performed will vary. There are forklift safety products available to assist with record keeping.