The operation of a lift truck should not be taken for granted. This equipment can be very dangerous if not operated properly. Each year over 300,000 people are injured in accidents that involve a forklift, many of these could have been avoided if some simple safety issues had been addressed beforehand. This article will look at some of these issues, precautions, and safety measures that make your company a safe place to work.
Insurance
No special insurance requirements are needed when you add forklifts to your fleet of equipment. You will want to be sure to contact your insurance agent to verify the amount of coverage you currently have and that it is adequate for the risk you have involved. Even if you do decide to increase your coverage, the additional cost should be less than taking out a new policy.
If your company has a training course or is able to obtain safety certification for the driver of the equipment, you may be able to qualify for a discount on the premium. In fact, if you have to submit a claim from a forklift accident, you most likely will see your rates increase.
Licenses
Many special types of equipment, such as a motorcycle, commercial trucks, or buses will require a special license to operate them. This is not the case with a lift truck as a general rule of thumb. As long the equipment is driven and kept within your property, there is no additional license needed. If your work takes you onto the public streets to load or unload trucks or to move pallets from one area to another, that encompasses public streets and you may need a license. To be safe, check with your local authorities to make sure there is not a local ordinance that you could be in violation of.
Age Restrictions
Most states require the driver of a car or small truck to be at least 16 years old to obtain a driver's license. Because of the unique factors associated with a forklift, the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits forklift operation by anyone under the age of 18. There are special considerations if the lift truck is used in the operation of an agricultural based company, then the age restriction does not apply. Operators on farms and agricultural based jobs must be at least 16 years old.
Training And Certification
You may be exposing your company to liability issues if you allow operators on a truck lift without the proper training. A little basic safety training can go a long way to prevent accident or injury, not only to the driver, but also to other workers that may be injured due to a shifting load or other accident.
Specialized training will teach you how to safely operate the forklift, teach some basic safety issues, go over potential accident situations, and how to handle possible emergencies that may arise. If you don't feel comfortable or informed enough to conduct your own safety training, there are companies that specialize in this particular type of safety training. An Internet search or phonebook listing should put you in touch with them.
Many businesses couldn't operate without a forklift. Regardless if your company currently uses a lift truck or you're just thinking of adding one to your fleet, you should be aware of the age restrictions, insurance, and license issues that might come up.
Author Resource:-
Christine O'Kelly is an author for RHI Lifts, a leading retailer of lift trucks and forklift, Illinois. RHI Lifts provides training for both forklift and lift truck, Chicago. They also offer maintenance, new and used equipment rental, and repair.
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