The Safe Belt

The seat belt is an essential safety tool for anyone operating any kind of motor vehicle. In fact, for this reason the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires all forklift operators to wear a seat belt whenever they get behind the wheel. After all, a forklift is a relatively delicate vehicle. It is top-heavy, and the greatest number of forklift-related deaths is caused by forklifts tipping over. At the same time, it would be foolish to deny that forklift operators put their bodies through quite a bit more than your average car driver. Forklift operators need to be able to twist and turn their bodies since they spend a good deal of time backing up their locomotive. Unfortunately, traditional seat belts really aren’t made with forklift operators in mind. They’re tight and restrictive, holding your body in place so that it faces forward at all times. Considering the frequency with which you need to face backwards, traditional seat belts can lead to soreness and an aching back.

At long last, there is a seat belt that is tailored to the needs of the forklift operator! The Safe Belt, winner of the 2009 Plant Engineering Product of the Year, improves upon traditional seat belts in every way. The arc shape allows you to easily twist your body to look sideways and behind you. Another useful feature is the bright yellow color, which makes it easy for others to notice if you are wearing your seat belt or not.

Upgrading to the Safe Belt is an expensive proposition, since traditional seat belts cost a fraction of the price. Still, it will pay off in the end. If you have a forklift related incident that could have been prevented by a more accommodating seat belt, you will pay far more than you would for the Safe Belt. If you rely heavily on your forklift, you can and should think of the Safe Belt as an investment that will pay dividends for your health and safety.