ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Material handling equipment is among the safety focus areas for Anniston Army Depot during the month of August.
Depot operations would cease without the safe, timely movement of vehicles, equipment and material in and around shops and work areas.
The principal mover of material at Anniston Army Depot is the powered industrial vehicle, commonly known as the forklift.
According to OSHA and the Industrial Truck Association, there are approximately 855,900 forklifts in service in the United States.
An average of 61,800 forklift related accidents occur each year.
Of those accidents, 34,900 result in a serious injury. Of those serious injuries, 85 end in a fatality.
At some point, according to OSHA, more than seven percent of forklifts will be involved in an accident.
There are more than 420 forklifts operating at ANAD, excluding contractor organizations and there have been three forklift-related injuries in the last three years.
As a forklift operator, how can you avoid becoming an accident statistic?
Observing basic forklift safety rules and developing safe operating habits can help keep you, your equipment and the pedestrians who work in your area or along your route safe.
As an overview, here are a few safe practices:
• Equipment Utilization Records: ensure you inspect the forklift before use and you sign and date the utilization record as proof of your inspection.
• Always fasten the seat belt whenever the forklift is in operation, even if you are just moving it a few feet.
• Obey speed limits, both inside and outside of buildings. The speed limit inside buildings should be no more than 3 mph, or average walking speed.
• Maintain awareness of both vehicles and pedestrians.
• Stay within vehicle lanes where applicable.
• Always sound the horn before backing, approaching an area with limited visibility and when entering or exiting a building.
• When handling loads, spread the forks as wide as possible and travel in reverse if you cannot see over your load.
• Never use forklift to push or "bulldoze" pallets, only to lift.
• When negotiating hills or ramps, drive with the load on the uphill side. This means drive uphill with the load in front and downhill in reverse. Tilt the mast back slightly when traveling to help secure the load and never travel with the forks raised more than necessary, whether loaded or empty.
• When parking the forklift, never leave the operator's seat until you have lowered the lifting mechanism, shifted the controls to neutral and applied the parking brake.
• If you move more than 25 feet away or are out of sight of the forklift, it should be turned off.
Operating a forklift, or any other type of material handling equipment, carries a huge responsibility for the operator.
Your safety, as well as that of your coworkers, rests on the decisions you make and the safety habits you develop.
No job is so important that a few minutes cannot be spared to ensure the task is being completed in a safe manner.
For questions regarding forklift safety, contact the Safety Office at Ext. 7541.
LICENSING
In addition to the above safe practices, those who operate forklifts and any other material handling equipment on the depot should have a valid operator's license.
To obtain an operator's license, the employee must pass a medical examination at the Dear Occupational Health Clinic, complete the Army Accident Avoidance Course, take a written test and a hands-on test administered by the Mobile Equipment Driver Tester at the Motor Pool, and complete a period of time as a trainee, under the direct supervision of a licensed operator.
At the end of the trainee period, the employee will be issued an operator's license valid for up to three years.
Before the expiration of their license, the employee will provide their updated medical card along with the Accident Avoidance Certificate for renewal of their operator's license.
Licenses are issued IAW ANADR 56-5. The proponent of this regulation is the Logistics Division of the Directorate of Public Works.
For additional information regarding mobile handling equipment operator licenses, contact the Motor Pool at Ext. 6101.
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