Working in the oilfield or in other industrial professions, you may be required to operate a forklift. Forklifts save time and prevent injuries by carrying heavy loads with ease, but they can become dangerous very quickly when operated by an untrained or reckless driver.

Safetytoolboxtalks.com has some excellent guidelines for safe forklift operation:

1. Buckle your seatbelt. Forklifts do tip over, and strapping yourself in will prevent you from falling out.
2. When you park the forklift, the forks should be resting on the ground and the controls should be in neutral. The parking brake should be set.
3. If the operator is more than 25 feet away, the forklift is considered “unattended.” An unattended forklift should be parked with the power turned off.
4. Always drive with the load on the uphill side of an incline. Drive in reverse to take a load down an incline.
5. When traveling without a load, the forks should be four to six inches off the ground.
6. Never allow anyone to walk underneath a raised load.
7. Stop at all blind corners to check for people or other machines, and use your horn to alert those around you to your presence.
8. If the load you are carrying is tall enough to block your vision, travel in reverse, turning your head to see where you are going.
9. When around other forklifts maintain a three-forklift distance between forklifts and never attempt to pass.

10.  Never drive a forklift up to the back of a person who is unaware of your presence.

Workplace accidents involving forklifts can be deadly. Use the above guidelines as a reference, but make sure to request proper safety training from your employer if you are required to drive a forklift.

The Metier Law Firm, LLC – Denver injury attorneys