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To ensure the safety and efficiency of your forklift operators, you need a training program that not only adheres to OSHA guidelines but also creates a lasting impact on their daily performance.

Did you know that tip-overs are the number one type of accident fatality on a scissor lift? That may leave you asking, how do I prevent tipping over while using a scissor lift? Watch the short video "Avoid Tipovers! Check your Weight Capacities and More"

Operating a forklift in a busy, fast-paced environment can be hazardous. Forklifts must navigate around other vehicles, pedestrians, ramps, uneven surfaces, slippery floors, poor lighting, and blind spots. Environmental awareness is a critical part of forklift operator safety training to avoid accidents and injuries. By paying attention to environmental hazards, operators can prevent accidents and reduce the cost of doing business. In this article, we will explore the major environmental hazards that forklift operators face and how to handle them. We will also introduce TrainMOR, Morrison’s Forklift Operator Training company, which offers tailored training programs for businesses to ensure their operators are properly trained and equipped to handle any situation.

Forklifts are an essential piece of equipment used in many industries to transport materials and goods. However, despite their usefulness, they pose significant risks to workers if not used properly. Fatal forklift accidents are a major concern in the United States, and the numbers are alarming.

Forklifts are potentially dangerous pieces of industrial equipment, and, unfortunately, even the best forklift operators make mistakes. Some are relatively minor errors, like forgetting to check the battery’s charge. However, some errors are very serious, risking the safety of pedestrians and operators, as well as damage to equipment and products. 

No. We’re not asking if your forklifts are prepared with festive lights and decorations. What we’re asking is are your trucks ready for the busy-ness of the holiday shopping season?

Ever wonder why there aren’t forklift operator licenses? After all, truck drivers need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Why don’t forklift operators need to be licensed? They operate big, heavy, potentially dangerous equipment.

MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms) are useful tools in an industrial environment, allowing operators to reach heights that are otherwise out of reach. But when MEWPS are used outside, there are certain weather conditions that severely impact safe MEWP operation.

This blog post will explain the hazards and how to manage them.

Is your forklift like a see-saw?

A forklift’s tires can either reduce the chance of accidents or cause them. Tires are truly THAT fundamental to a forklift’s operation, so we always recommend a daily tire check. It can make the difference between causing an accident and preventing one.

On National Forklift Safety Day, Let’s Dispel Dangerous Myths Surrounding Forklift Safety!

What are the most common, serious forklift accidents and how can you help prevent them? OSHA estimates that more than 85 people are killed in forklift-related incidents, around 34,900 seriously injured and another 61,800 suffer non-serious injuries.

Have you ever had a forklift or MEWP operator ask this question? We’ll bet you have. 

Is forklift operator a smart career move for you?

For the safety of operators and other workers, OSHA requires forklift and MEWP operators to be certified before they operate the equipment. The employer is ultimately responsible for providing training programs since training must be tailored to each facility and equipment model. 

How can we protect pedestrians in the workplace from forklift accidents and injuries? Pedestrians need training too!

This blog post will summarize the most important things you can do to protect operators and equipment and maintain safety during winter. 

This blog post will list some of the most common objections to forklift training and give you valuable information you can use in support of training.

How many ways can forklift mast chains fail? What are the signs operators should look for to prevent these dangerous failures? What could happen when forklift chain fails? Even with normal usage, mast chains will wear out. Overloading, misaligned chain and other problems cause premature wear and damage. Learn what to look for when inspecting chains in this TrainMOR Topics article.

Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training is not optional, but sometimes can feel like an impediment to productivity—a necessary but unprofitable activity. But, what if, in reality, operator training is saving you time and money? What if it is actually one of the best investments you can make in your business? There are at least 6 benefits to investing in forklift operator training and we’ve outlined them here in this article.

We rely on them to lift and move heavy loads, but in the hands of untrained, inexperienced or careless operators, forklift trucks pose some serious risks in the workplace. Lower your risk by being aware of these common and completely avoidable forklift-related OSHA violations.

Off-center loads, overloading, loading damaged or loose loads, and driving too fast are all too frequent causes of serious and fatal forklift accidents. In this article we review how forklift operators can ensure load stability to profoundly reduce injuries and death due to tip-overs, spills, and other forklift accidents.

What information is on a data plate?
 

Some accessories that outfit your forklift truck for safety.

Did you know that most of the forklift damage done to products is because of the forks?  Forks that aren’t positioned properly can puncture and tear product packaging.  Poorly positioned forks may also snag shelving or lead to spills.
 

Recognize and avoid the four major safety concerns associated with MEWPs. 

A forklift operator's hand wrapped around the operator compartment upright might seem like a rather inconsequential action until you consider that hand being accidentally scraped against a wall or crushed against an object. Watch the short video "Keep Body Parts Inside Forklift Compartment!".

Operators are instructed to refer to the safety labels on their equipment to answer operation questions and ensure safe operation. Therefore, it is especially important to be sure the labels on your equipment are legible and able to be read by operators.

Consistent workplace safety programs help companies stay on top of safety training, remain OSHA compliant and avoid undesirable outcomes.

Before operating your lift truck are you making sure you have a tow pin in place? Watch this short video about "Do you have a Tow Pin? Check your Operator's Manual"

Your lift truck may be your biggest resource to avoiding and anticipating accidents if your labels are legible and you can read your overhead warnings. Watch the short video "Warning! 17 Scenarios That Could Cause Death or Injury".

Forklifts routinely support large amounts of weight and the base of that weight are the tires of the machine. The average forklift is three-times that of the average car, so having adequate tires are important to staying safe while using the vehicle.

There is nothing worse than turning on a machine and realizing it has little to no battery charge. Watch the short video "Don't be fooled! Pick the Right Plug to Charge Your MEWP!"

When operating a powered industrial truck, anticipating a tip over could be a smart idea when thinking about how to avoid them or what to do in the case of one happening.

When starting a new work day, or switching machines, one of the most important things you can do is a visual walk around inspection prior to operation. Visual inspections allow operators to catch problems before they happen, problems that could turn into costly OSHA violations or equipment repairs. However, in order to utilize daily inspections effectively, there are a few things you will need to implement in addition to just walking around the machine.

Have you practiced using the emergency lowering device on your hydraulic lift? If not, you will want to become familiar with where this device is and how it works so that you know how to lower your lift in the event of an emergency. Watch the short video "Do You Know Where Your Emergency Lowering Device Is?"

Have you practiced using the emergency lowering device on your hydraulic lift? If not, you will want to become familiar with where this device is and how it works so that you know how to lower your lift in the event of an emergency. Watch the short video "Do You Know Where Your Emergency Lowering Device Is?"

Imagine visiting a country where you don't speak the native language. You may be able to order food, find the restroom, and perform other basic functions to get by throughout the day.
However, once you need to perform a more complex task which may require true comprehension of the language versus just a basic understanding, the language barrier becomes a bigger problem and you realize that you are unable to fully execute this task.

More than likely, you are already familiar with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), as they create the standards for all MEWPs and MEWP operation in the US. What you may not know is that the Scaffold and Access Industry Association (SAIA) distributes these standards in a publishable format, specifically, as a physical manual called the SAIA Manual of Responsibilities. Watch the short video about "SAIA Required Manual of Responsibilities"

Every winter season, operators of MEWPs and forklifts are faced with a new set of challenges. Winter conditions do not always lend to the safest working environments, and therefore, operators must take special precautions once the weather starts getting colder.

When you have Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) in use in your workplace, the threshold for accidents is inevitably higher. If any of your employees are utilizing these kinds of equipment, what are your plans in case of an accident?

When you are investing in workplace safety, such as maintaining your equipment or installing new safety signage in the workplace, do you ever wonder how much an on-the-job injury could potentially cost your company? The truth is that there are multiple factors to consider when calculating the total cost of an injury. With each injury that occurs on the job, your company could incur healthcare/legal expenses, OSHA fines, financial losses due to decreased productivity, and other indirect expenses. When you look at the big picture, all of these hidden costs can really add up!

How long has it been since you've replaced the forks on your forklift truck? If you're
questioning when, it might be a good time to take a closer look at your equipment.