Forklift Safety Awareness
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This site is dedicated to Forklift Safety Awareness.
Information contained on this site may be of benefit to workers or individuals operating a forklift, lift truck, crane or other industrial lift equipment or working in a manufacturing, agricultural, logistics or transportation environment where a tow motor, forklift or other industrial lift machinery may be operated.
This site is not intended to be accurate training material or legal guidance for any particular jurisdiction or region, Company Officials are responsible for being aware of and abiding by local laws and regulations in their area.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation and Code require an employer to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker to show due diligence in the workplace.
Regulation for Industrial Establishments, Regulation 851 is more specific about industrial hazards.
We highly recommend seeking proper certification in your area.
Both the OHS Act and the Regulation 851 have provisions that relate to work involving powered lift trucks, but neither mention them specifically.
Clause 25(1)(b) of the OHS Act refers to an employer's duty to provide "equipment" that is in good condition.
Clauses 25(2)(a), (c) and (d) deal generally with worker training and supervision. And clause 25(2)(h) is the most general duty of all, requiring an employer to;
”take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker".
Subsections 51(1) and (2) of Regulation 851 are more specific, with provisions that apply to a "lifting device", defined as,
A device that is used to raise or lower any material or object and includes its rails and other supports but does not include a device to which the Elevating Devices Act applies.
This definition clearly applies to powered lift trucks and should be interpreted broadly as including not just the elevating section of a truck but the entire vehicle.
Compliance will require attention in the following areas:
- General safety inspection and maintenance
- Assessment of load-handling capacity
- Inspection frequency
- Operator competence
- Operating procedures
- Recordkeeping
- Training
Clause 25(2)(a) of the OHS Act places an obligation on an employer to "provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker".
Regulation 851 is more specific and states that a lifting device is only to be operated by a competent person. "Competent person" is defined by the OHS Act as someone who:
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is qualified because of his knowledge, training, and experience to organize the work and its performance,
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is familiar with the provisions of this Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
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has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace.
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