Just a friendly reminder to make sure your forklift operation training is up to date, or you could be forking over some serious cash.
With the new year, we wanted to provide a brief refresher on safety standards for forklifts.
First off, a reminder that it is a violation of Federal law for anyone UNDER 18 years of age to operate a forklift or for anyone OVER 18 years of age who is not properly trained and certified to do so.
Once trained and certified, OSHA requires an evaluation of each individual operator every three years.
For workers who operate forklifts on a day to day basis, it may start to feel routine, or even mundane, but it’s important to remember how dangerous a forklift can be when not maintained and operated precisely and with great care. The evaluation helps to ensure that workers are operating the machine correctly, minimizing risk to both the operator, the workers in the vicinity, and the employer. Improperly operated machinery isn’t only potentially hazardous, it can be costly.
In March of 2019, Hilti was fined $164,802 after forklift accident. Inspectors determined that Hilti failed to provide forklift operator training and instructions to employees operating the vehicles and ensure that employees performed daily forklift inspections.
Additionally, Global Experience Specialists was cited with alleged safety violations after a worker was injured in a forklift incident at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center in September 2012. The Las Vegas-based trade show and exposition contractor faces proposed fines of $91,000.
According to OSHA: “Employers who rely on the use of forklifts in their daily operations, have a responsibility to train their workers in proper operations and to correct deficiencies immediately to prevent hazardous incidents from occurring.”
Protect your employees, and your business.
If you have any questions, need training or evaluation, we are happy to help! Contact us here.
ASHLEY BARAJAS
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