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Certain jobs rely on certain equipment, and when it comes to professions that require carrying heavy loads, very few vehicles are as reliable as forklifts. With a forklift, you’re able to lift and carry a variety of materials that you couldn’t with a car or truck due to the material’s size, weight, or design.
However, for those who just received the license necessary to use a forklift, there are certain tips you should follow so that you avoid getting hurt. Here are three things that rookies should know when operating forklifts.
Wear the right clothes
You may think that a hard hat is enough to keep you safe while using a forklift, but there’s more to staying safe. Most jobs that require you to work with forklifts have safety shoes designed to protect your feet in case you step on any sharp parts of the vehicle or debris left over in the work site. High visibility jackets are also required, especially when using a forklift during later parts of the day.
Pants and long-sleeved shirts come in handy in adding protection to your arms and legs. However, you’ll want to keep all pieces of clothing tucked in. Any loose clothing can get caught in certain parts of the forklift, which quickly leads to injuries. Some forklifts don’t come with doors, windows, and other sources of security that most vehicles have, so the more you cover yourself up, the safer you’ll be on your first run.
Pay attention
Most accidents can be avoided if you’re aware of your surroundings and your own actions. That is especially important for operating forklifts, and inspecting it before you put it to work will help you find any potential problems. This includes checking the battery, voltage levels, and gas so that you have enough fuel to use the forklift for certain tasks. Checking on your forklift before every use will save you plenty of trouble in the long run.
You can also lower your risk of injury by watching the environment that you’re working in. The area should be clear of any debris or leftover equipment that could potentially knock over the forklift. You should also tell co-workers when and where you’re going to operate the vehicle so that they know when to move out of the way or take a break. Despite all this, injuries can happen anyway, so be open to finding an attorney who can get you injury at work compensation.
Keep communication open
Whenever you start a new job, you may feel like asking too many questions will make you come across poorly to coworkers and your boss. However, doing so actually helps you perform better and build relationships with those in your company. When it comes to operating a forklift, get as many tips from the seasoned employees as you can before you start, and ask about how alarms work and when to let others know that you’re on the forklift. You can develop signals to give each other when performing certain actions or warnings in case you’re working close to each other.
These communication methods can be developed at classes and similar services. Talking to your boss and other superiors will also benefit you. For example, if you’re taking lessons in forklift training in Brisbane, then you can learn about mistakes that people made in the past so that you don’t make them yourself. Keep these tips in mind so you can operate forklifts for as long as possible and stay injury-free.
