Bluegrass Forklift Safety Observation 1-3 Month Rev2

• Document No.

• Audit Title

• Client / Site

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

• Personnel

Before Operations

• Pre-use inspection completed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• During the pre-use inspection you check a lot of different things. Do a walk through while looking at the book together to ensure the operator knows what to check and how to check it.

• PPE worn properly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If you choose not to wear your _______(name needed PPE)________ you have a possible chance of causing injury while ____(name a job task)_____________

• Equipment have been reported?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If you find something wrong with the equipment during your pre-shift check or at anytime, you should always follow our Stop Call Wait policy and get your leads involved. You should never operate a lift you do not feel is safe.

• Is ID plate visible?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• The ID plate has a lot of valuable information on it. It is also an OSHA requirement that it be legible and in place on the machine. Verify the data plate is in good condition on the machine with the operator.

• Does operator know the load capacity?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• The load capacity of this lift is ______________. Talk about how the capacity changes based on fork length. Refer to the data plate for information.

Getting on and off the forklift

• Operator uses 3 point contact when getting on and off the forklift?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Discuss potential to have an injury getting on and off the lift while not using 3 point contact.

• Forks are lowered and placed on the floor when leaving the forklift?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Discuss why it is important to make sure the forks are on the floor when leaving the lift so they don't become trip hazards or spears if the forklift were to roll.

• Parking brake is always set before leaving forklift?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If the parking brake is not set after you get off anything could happen. We had an incident where the driver got off the lift, did not set the brake, and the lift rolled over their own foot.

• Forklift is switched off and key is maintained in the specified place when ending operations?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Switching the key and/or controller off ensures that no unauthorized users can get on the lift and take off. It seems hard to imagine but it does happen when people think they are trying to help or just get inpatient and want to move something themselves. This is when we have the potential for a very big incident due to someone operating the equipment that has not been trained to do so.

Forklift Operations

• Forklift path is checked for any personnel or obstacles before proceeding on the forklift?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• By checking for personnel or obstacles this means you are looking ahead of your path prior to putting your foot on the accelerator. This does not mean you switched from backing with your head turned and started forward before you ever completely turn your head back that direction.

• Quick starts or quick stops are not performed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Although the pedal will go to the floor it does not mean you should keep it there. Slow acceleration and stopping helps to prevent any load you may be carrying from shifting and falling over.

• Specified speed limit is followed? (6mph or less)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Discuss how a steady pace has been proven to be more efficient than a hurried pace. When trying to go faster than the speed limit, your risk of an incident dramatically increases.

• Material has been checked for any damages and unstable stacks?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• You should not attempt to carry a damaged load or unstable stack by yourself. If you find a situation like this it is always better to follow Stop Call Wait to get more eyes on the situation. If you do this alone, you could be blamed for damages already there or lose your load trying to correct the unstable stack.

• Loads on the pallet are transported after confirming that the load is stacked safely and in stable condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• You should always ensure the pallet is stable with its load prior to moving it. If you move a pallet and something falls off and touches the ground you could have potentially bought that product for the company. This is the case in a lot of our environments we operate.

• Forklift is paused and position of the forks is confirmed before inserting forks?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Taking this extra time during a pause prior to inserting forks can save you from a lot of things. This can keep you from spearing product on the load. It can also keep you from pushing the load into an unwanted area or into other product causing damage.

• Forks are positioned in the pallet properly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Our loads do not always have the weight evenly distributed. Ensuring proper position centered under the load prevents the load from tipping once picked up off the ground. You should always carry your load centered and as close to the backrest as possible.

• Forklift is not driven with loads higher than 2 to 4 inches from the surface?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• In some environments it is not possible to carry 2-4 inches from the surface. You should always keep your load as close to the ground as possible without scrapping the ground. This helps to keep the load stable even if the weight is not distributed properly. It also helps keep you view unobstructed.

• The forklift mast is tilted back to maintain loads during operations?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Tilting the mast back while maintaining a load helps provide more stability for the load. It also helps keep the load on the forks should you have to stop suddenly in an emergency.

• The operator drives in reverse when the view is obstructed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Not only should you drive in reverse when your view is obstructed, it is proven to be more productive when you drive in reverse. You can carry a more product backwards than you can forwards because your view is not obstructed.

• Operator stops and sounds horn at intersection?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Just like an intersection for a roadway, the warehouse environment should be no different. You must stop at intersections driving a car when there is a potential for collision or when it is not otherwise designed by signs and lights. This not only gives you a better snap shot of what is around you, it gives you a chance to reconfirm the load is stable on your forks.

Loading and Unloading

• Unsafe behavior such as riding on the trucks or mast is not performed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• The forklift is designed with one seat for a reason. You would not stand on the side rail of a semi truck going down the road. Why would you stand on the outside of a forklift cage going down an aisle?

• Product is loaded and stacked properly during the loading / unloading process?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Review unloading and loading procedures with the operator even if they are not unloading or loading a truck when observed. Also review your current stack height standards for the facility.

• No single item is loaded that exceeds the back rest that is consider to be unsafe for travel?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• When your load is too tall you have zero control of it. The backrest of the lift helps to stabilize the load by acting as a "wall" or "shelf" for the load to rest against.

• All dock constraints are utilized during the loading / unloading process?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• At this facility we use ______________ to ensure our trailers don't leave without us being ready for them to. There have been a few incidents where the forklifts wound up on the ground outside of the building because these constraints were not used. Review this with the forklift driver even if they are not working to load or unload a trailer at the time of observation.

• General Comments

• Operator Signature

  Sign

• Observed By

  Sign