Why workplace forklift accidents are no laughing matter

Forklift operators not following safety rules is a serious issue
You know an occurrence is common when it gets its own top-10 highlight reel. This YouTube video, “Top 10 Forklift Accidents,” shows that forklift safety is something worth thinking about.
And while nearly 6 million people may have found those forklift accidents hilarious, chances are you wouldn’t be laughing if they happened in your workplace.
There were an average of 107 forklift accident deaths annually between 1981 and 1990 — not to mention more than 33,000 serious injuries and over 61,000 minor injuries. In fact, forklift accidents have resulted in approximately 85 deaths, over 34,000 serious injuries, and more than 61,000 minor injuries every year since 1981.
How do forklift accidents happen?

Plenty of things can cause forklift accidents in the workplace. Here are a few of the most common reasons people get hurt while using forklifts:
- Lack of training — It’s important that every employee who uses a forklift for any reason is trained on how to properly and safely operate one. In fact, it’s an Operational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirement! It’s also a good idea to supervise new forklift operators while they get used to the machinery.
- Poor equipment upkeep — Like all other motorized vehicles, forklifts need regular maintenance and upkeep to function safely and efficiently. It’s also important to prevent your machinery from doing damage to your facility or making your facility less safe.
- Workplace design flaws — If your facility isn’t designed for forklift use, you could run into issues like uneven ground, slick surfaces, steep grades, or curbs and ledges that get in the way.
- Inappropriate use — Driving too quickly, loading a forklift incorrectly, and even run-of-the-mill horseplay can all put forklift operators at risk of injury or death.
How can you prevent forklift accidents?
The good news is you can easily prevent all those reasons for forklift accidents with a few cautionary steps!
- Ensure you train employees. Operators should know that if a forklift starts to tip over, for instance, they should stay inside and brace themselves — rather than try to jump out. Being trained on forklift safety can literally make the difference between life and death.
-
Keep machinery — and the area where it’s in use — in good condition. You should service forklifts regularly, and OSHA requires that drivers inspect forklifts once per shift. Forklifts can sometimes leak fluids, so try a forklift mat to keep a handle on leaks and prevent slips, trips, and falls.
- Make your workplace forklift-friendly. If a driver hits a curb or corner with her or his forklift, that could mean damage to the forklift, facility, driver, other workers — or all four! Avoid damage with column protectors, corner protectors, and wall protectors.
- Heavy machinery is no joke. People might find YouTube videos funny, but the dangers forklifts can pose in the workplace are no laughing matter. Anyone operating a forklift should take her or his safety and the safety of those around her or him seriously.
If you want to become a YouTube sensation, get a funny cat. Your five minutes of fame aren’t worth ending up a statistic in a potentially fatal forklift accident.
Do you have the safety products you need to protect your workers and your facility from potential forklift dangers? To find out, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

The only thing more important than your equipment safety is the safety of your employees. Which is why you need the right industrial safety products on hand. In short, to keep both your equipment and employees safe under all possible circumstances. And help ensure you comply with
Many facilities paint their columns the same color as the walls. Which makes columns difficult to see. Particularly when operating vehicles like forklifts, tow motor lifts, or carts. A collision with a column can cause damage to your facility and your equipment — not to mention your employees!
Similarly, you can protect high-traffic areas in your facility with
Repairing damage to drywall, concrete, or block walls can be expensive. But you can prevent this damage with
Don’t let fluids from your forklifts damage your floors or present employee slip hazards.
It’s especially important to protect your floors in high-traffic areas. That’s because this is where small spills and leaks tend to frequently happen.
When absorbent mats just don’t cut it, try 
Unfortunately, when it comes to spreading pollutants, nothing does it more efficiently than our very own water systems. Some materials might seem harmless when applied to a small area. For example, pesticide spray on lawns or motor oil spills on pavement. But, when the rain comes, any runoff water carries with it whatever pollutants it encounters.

Since their invention in the early 20th century, forklifts have become not just useful, but necessary machines in any industrial setting. These powerful and versatile tools have greatly expanded our abilities to lift and move large objects easily — but that power, when not handled properly, can easily become dangerous.



Want to learn more about absorbents or industrial floor mats? AbsorbentsOnline can help. Contact Travis Zdrazil at
When you and your workers leave to go home each day, is there pep in your step … or a pain in your back? For workers who have to stand all day long, foot, knee, and back pain can be serious problems. To counter the effects of standing for extended periods during work, anti-fatigue floor mats might be the solution you’ve been looking for.
AbsorbentsOnline offers two types of indoor anti-fatigue floor mats to increase worker productivity and keep you feeling great all day long: 



Do you have the right safety products on hand for your workplace? To find out, contact Angie Meza at