Guidelines and Best Practices
- Properly maintain haulage equipment, including tires.
- Do not modify or make attachments that affect the capacity and safe operation of the forklift without written approval from the forklift's manufacturer.
- Conduct corrective and preventive maintenance in a timely manner.
- Follow safe operating procedures for picking up, moving, putting down and stacking loads.
- Do not exceed the 5 mph speed limit, and slow down in congested or slippery surface areas.
- Prohibit operator speeding, stunt driving and horseplay. Retrain or discipline as appropriate, and document.
- Do not handle loads that are heavier than the capacity of the industrial truck.
- Remove unsafe or defective forklift trucks from service.
- Do not travel with elevated loads.
- Assure that a rollover protective structure is in place.
- Make certain that the reverse signal alarm is operational and audible above the surrounding noise level.
- Forklift truck operators demonstrate competence by successful completion of training and evaluation of driving skills.
- Inspect forklifts before each use for proper condition of brakes, horns, steering, forks and tires.
- Make sure powered industrial trucks (forklifts) meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.
- Make sure battery charging is conducted in areas specifically designated for that purpose.
- Material handling equipment is provided for handling batteries, including conveyors, overhead hoists or equivalent devices.
- Reinstall and properly position, and secure batteries in the forklift.
- Do not permit smoking in the battery charging areas.
- Prevent open flames, sparks or electric arcs in battery charging areas.
- Provide training as necessary when an operator is assigned to drive a different type of truck.
- When leaving a forklift unattended, fully lower the load and forks, place controls in neutral position, turn the power off and set the brakes.
- Make sure there is sufficient headroom for the forklift and operator under overhead installations, lights, pipes, sprinkler systems, etc.
- Ensure overhead guards are in place to protect the operator against falling objects.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
7-6. What must the operator do when leaving a forklift unattended?
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