Forklift Operator Safety Training - Driving & The Importance Of Using Seat Restraints

Being struck by the edges of the rollover safety cage is the primary cause of fatal injuries in forklift rollover accidents

. Accident investigations conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) find that the single consistent identifiable characteristic in these incidents was that the driver was not using seat belts.

When compared to a car or truck, not fastening a seatbelt in a forklift exposes the operator to a greater probability of injuries although forklifts move at speeds much slower than cars. An examination of the design and physical features of a forklift shows us the reasons why.

Forklifts, especially those used indoors, such as in warehouses, may give the impression of being giant toys, but they are far from it. Actually, even the smallest operator driven forklift is heavier than a mid-sized automobile. Their center of gravity is also located higher. Moreover, forklifts steer by rotating their rear axle, which is usually mounted on a pin. This enables forklifts to maneuver in restricted spaces. It also reduces the effective equilibrium base to a triangle thus making it easy to tip a forklift over. Therefore, unlike a car, a turn into a soft shoulder or driving off a curb can cause an overturn.

At the time a forklift becomes unstable and begins to fall over, the driver naturally tries to jump away from the vehicle. But as we have seen, forklifts are vehicles with a high center of gravity and low stability. They are also heavy. During a tip-over, the combined smaller stability base, higher center of gravity and heavy vehicular weight causes a forklift to fall fast and without warning. It is, therefore, almost impossible for an operator to jump clear. They invariably get caught by the overhead guards of the safety cage and suffer from severe injuries that are often fatal.

NIOSH reports that in nearly all forklift tip-over incidences fatalities occur because unrestrained drivers try to jump out of falling vehicles. The studies also show that during a rollover the safest place for the forklift driver is inside the safety cage securely strapped to the seat. The lesson is very clear. To avoid fatal injuries, forklift drivers should always use seatbelts.

by:Michael Stitt

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