Devices for Moving Loads
2. HAZARDS AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN THE HANDLING OF FORKLIFTS
The most common hazards when handling these devices are the following:
- Loads falling: knocking into stored materials, pallets breaking, faulty loading.
- Overturning laterally or frontally: excessive load or speed, high centre of gravity of the load, circulating on roads with a slope or unprotected docks.
- Driver falling out.
- Collision with other vehicles or objects due to excess speed, excessive load, deficient signalling, cluttered aisles.
- Other hazards: fires, burns.
Preventive measures:
- Forklifts can only be handled by authorised drivers.
Only forklifts equipped with the following are to be used:
- Immobilising brake that allows maintaining the forklift with the maximum load on the maximum permissible slope.
- Disconnection device that prevents its use by unauthorised persons.
- Klaxon and acoustic reversing warning.
- Luminous signals and their own lights.
- Safety doorway in the case of the load falling or the forklift overturning.
- Ergonomic seat with anti-vibration system.
As regards loads:
- Do not exceed the maximum load.
- Load the payload well and as close as possible to the mast.
As regards circulating:
- Move the load with the forks close to the ground.
- Do not exceed the maximum speed permitted in each area or that indicated by the manufacturer.
- Respect Road Regulations.
- Do not transport personnel or use the forklift to lift people.
- If the load is very large and impedes visibility, drive in reverse gear.
- Do not make simultaneous movements.
- Always circulate in a straight line on ramps, forward gear up the ramp and reverse gear down, with the mast fully inclined backwards.
- Wear the safety belt.
- Always wear a helmet, safety boots with reinforced toecaps, gloves for mechanical work if you have to handle the load, safety goggles when work conditions present a risk for your eyes and ear protectors when the noise level exceeds 80 dB (A).
