VHS English Version Product Number: 1007GEVHS
DVD English Version Product Number: 1007GEDVD
VHS Spanish Version Product Number: 1007GSVHS
DVD Spanish Version Product Number: 1007GSDVD
Length of Video(in Minutes): 10
Publisher: Digital-2000, Inc.
Description: This program highlights the relationship of forklift operators and other workers for their equal responsibility in providing a safe environment. Stresses the responsibility of safety for every employee, not just equipment operators.
Excerpt: What’s the most important thing about working in thewarehouse? Well, the thing that comes to most peoples’ mind first is get thejob done. Working in a warehouse environment means you’re always having tohustle, hustle to move materials, merchandise, a thousand other things. Well,what about safety? It’s of primary importance and safety means you have to usegood judgment and common sense on every job you do. Safety is a responsibility,a responsibility that each and every employee has as a condition of employment.So safety takes an effort on everyone’s part. Every one in the facility mustexercise extreme caution because each and every person’s safety in thewarehouse depends on the cooperation of all persons.
Let’s take safety responsibility one step further. One ofthe most common complaints in any warehouse environment is forklifts. Forkliftoperators 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 acertain degree depending upon the professionalism of forklift operators.However, if you were to take a poll of all the forklift operators here’s whatthey would complain about: People walk in front of us without looking orwatching where they’re going. Peopledon’t consider that we can’t always see around corners, and when we honk ourhorns no one pays attention to us. So you see there are two sides to everystory. 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 discusssome basic rules that apply to both equipment operators and warehousepersonnel. The emphasis is not who’s to blame or who’s wrong, but on safety,everyone’s safety. Basically forklift operator rules generally call forpedestrians to have the right-of-way, but forklift operators don’t always seepedestrians until it’s too late. Common sense and courtesy would have thepedestrian stand aside and give the right-of-way to forklifts. It’s easier fora pedestrian to stop than it is for equipment operators. It’s just like apedestrian on a crosswalk on a street. Sure you have the right of way, but thatdoesn’t do you any good if a car runs you over in the crosswalk. If equipmentoperators observe the rule that pedestrians have the right-of-way, andpedestrians stand aside when equipment comes your way? How can you have anaccident? It’s impossible. Do you ever notice any noise in a warehouseenvironment? Well, of course. With all the equipment, people, and things goingon, there is noise, and especially if you’re a machine operator. There is noway a forklift operator can hear a pedestrian coming around a corner. But onthe other hand, pedestrians can often hear forklifts. Stay alert, and payattention 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 inmarked isles and don’t wonder about. When you see a forklift or equipmentoperator driving backwards, be watchful, the driver may have a blindside, andmay not be able to see you. If you’re not sure the operator sees you, make sureyou alert the operator that you’re close by…no mistakes. If the equipment isbeing operated with forks forward, whether it’s loaded or empty, staycompletely clear of the vehicle. The operator’s vision will be obstructed bythe mast and the load. What we’re doing is simply taking some basic commonsense and applying them to safety. Safety for equipment operators, and safetyfor pedestrians who happen to work around moving machinery. Remember we said it was everyone’sresponsibility? Safety is a team effort. Fairly simple stuff, such as notstanding 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 intoyou. Certainly no one would ever walk under or near a raised load. The samesafety rule applies to any load carried by the forklift. If the forklift stopssuddenly the load could fall, and if you’re in the way, you get clobbered. Howabout opening truck and trailer doors? Is there ever a problem with the loadfalling out? Of course there is. Always stand clear and open the doors slowlyas loads inside trucks can shift and call the load to fall out when the doorsare opened. Shipping and receiving docks are very busy places, there’s a lot ofwork going on, and if you don’t belong there stay away from these areas. If youhappen to work in shipping and receiving you have to pay extra attention towhat’s going on all the time.