Let’s take safety responsibility one step further. One of the most common complaints in any warehouse environment is forklifts. Forklift operators drive too fast, they don’t pay attention to anyone walking nearby; they just don’t seem to care about other people. All these may be true to a certain degree depending upon the professionalism of forklift operators. However, if you were to take a poll of all the forklift operators here’s what they would complain about: People walk in front of us without looking or watching where they’re going. People don’t consider that we can’t always see around corners, and when we honk our horns no one pays attention to us. So you see there are two sides to every story. The moral of the story is this. The moral of the story is simply this: Everyone has a responsibility to work and act safely in every job, every day, and it does take effort on everyone’s part.

Let’s take a few minutes to discuss some basic rules that apply to both equipment operators and warehouse personnel. The emphasis is not who’s to blame or who’s wrong, but on safety, everyone’s safety. Basically forklift operator rules generally call for pedestrians to have the right-of-way, but forklift operators don’t always see pedestrians until it’s too late. Common sense and courtesy would have the pedestrian stand aside and give the right-of-way to forklifts. It’s easier for a pedestrian to stop than it is for equipment operators. It’s just like a pedestrian on a crosswalk on a street. Sure you have the right of way, but that doesn’t do you any good if a car runs you over in the crosswalk. If equipment operators observe the rule that pedestrians have the right-of-way, and pedestrians stand aside when equipment comes your way? How can you have an accident? It’s impossible. Do you ever notice any noise in a warehouse environment? Well, of course. With all the equipment, people, and things going on, there is noise, and especially if you’re a machine operator. There is no way a forklift operator can hear a pedestrian coming around a corner. But on the other hand, pedestrians can often hear forklifts. Stay alert, and pay attention to the sounds around you.

If you hear a forklift or other equipment, that’s the time to look where you’re going, and stay out of harm’s way. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to keep to the right when walking. Stay in marked isles and don’t wonder about. When you see a forklift or equipment operator driving backwards, be watchful, the driver may have a blindside, and may not be able to see you. If you’re not sure the operator sees you, make sure you alert the operator that you’re close by…no mistakes. If the equipment is being operated with forks forward, whether it’s loaded or empty, stay completely clear of the vehicle. The operator’s vision will be obstructed by the mast and the load. What we’re doing is simply taking some basic common sense and applying them to safety. Safety for equipment operators, and safety for pedestrians who happen to work around moving machinery. Remember we said it was everyone’s responsibility? Safety is a team effort. Fairly simple stuff, such as not standing behind a pallet while the forklift or pallet jack is picking it up. You can never tell when that load may fall or the truck may push the load into you. Certainly no one would ever walk under or near a raised load. The same safety rule applies to any load carried by the forklift. If the forklift stops suddenly the load could fall, and if you’re in the way, you get clobbered. How about opening truck and trailer doors? Is there ever a problem with the load falling out? Of course there is. Always stand clear and open the doors slowly as loads inside trucks can shift and call the load to fall out when the doors are opened. Shipping and receiving docks are very busy places, there’s a lot of work going on, and if you don’t belong there stay away from these areas. If you happen to work in shipping and receiving you have to pay extra attention to what’s going on all the time.