The Warehouse Safety Tips | ACE Forklift Assessing

It doesn’t take a lot of common sense to identify the obvious hazards present on a typical

warehouse floor, but there are plenty of hidden hazards that might not be so obvious. These

hazards could injure (or worse) a forklift driver if they aren’t identified and avoided, so it’s

always a great idea to perform a warehouse hazards assessment and implement a

warehouse safety checklist and hazards list, which can be easily viewed and checked off by

those using forklifts.

This warehouse hazards list should be easy to read, give instructions clearly and should also

contain relevant warehouse safety topics that explain to the reader how to stay safe in

general, rather than just explaining the hazards. If possible, this list should be implemented

at the same time as holding a staff meeting that drives home the importance of safety. A

warehouse safety ppt presentation is often a great and simple way of conveying this

message.

You should begin your warehouse hazards/safety checklist by first determining which

factors contribute to forklift accidents. Both procedural and physical hazards should be

identified by category, then a safety list made to ensure these hazards are mitigated. Here is

an example to get you started:

Warehouse Hazards Checklist and Assessment Tool

These include factors on the level of the company/business that may cause hazards. These

might include:

Quality of forklifts (Do they conform to all Australian standards?, are theyregistered?)
Age of forklifts (Are there any age factors that may cause issues, such as rust orexcess shaking due to wear and tear?)
Maintenance of forklifts (Are they serviced regularly?)
Correct attachments / tools and their quality (Are all the attachments designed forthe forklifts you’re operating? Do they all work properly?)
Training practices for drivers (Are all drivers trained correctly and to Australianstandards?)
Assignment of the right forklift to the right driver (Are inexperienced drivers drivinglarger or more complicated forklifts?
Production issues (Are workers being rushed to finish their work at the end of theday? Are conditions stressful or uncomfortable?)

Behavioural and operational hazards can be caused by the driver of the forklift. They

include:

Regular maintenance and checks (Do drivers give the forklift a once-over before eachuse?)
Parking and transport (Is the forklift parked correctly? Are the wheels chocked andthe forklift tied properly during transport?)
Communication when driving (Does the driver alert others of his intentions andensure people in shared spaces are aware of his/her presence?)
Responsible use of forklift (Does the driver ensure the load is lowered duringmovement? Does the driver perform correct turning, braking and reversing
techniques? Does the driver act irresponsibly, performing stunts or driving

erratically?)
Speed (Does the driver travel at an appropriate speed at all times?)
Safety equipment (Does the driver use safety equipment correctly, such as hardhat,high-vis clothing e.t.c?)

These are the physical hazards that may be present within the workplace and may include:

General barriers (Are the aisles cluttered? Do items obstruct the traffic-way, aisles,intersections or doorways?)
Aisles and shelving (Are aisles narrow? Is the shelving and other areas that may beused for stacking safe and sturdy?
Shared spaces (Is there a lot of foot/vehicle traffic within shared spaces? Are peoplewithin shared spaces aware of the hazards of working near a forklift?)
Ramps and bridges (Are ramp and bridge surfaces sturdy, clear of clutter and offerplenty of grip?)
Loading dock (Is the loading dock in good condition, clear of clutter and safe?)
Other factors (Is lighting good? Will the driver have relatively clear vision and hearingwithin the workplace? Are there any toxic or dangerous items that need to be
avoided or handled with care?)

Load hazards refer to the dangers that may be present when loading and unloading the

forklift. These may include:

Stacking conditions (Are loads stacked correctly and does the person loading themhave an understanding of how to stack properly?)
Weights of load (Is the load too heavy? Is it too light, causing a risk of its contentsfalling or blowing off too easily?)
Pallets (Are the pallets in good condition, free from rot, hanging nails, sharp piecesand similar?
Visibility (Does the load allow for clear vision?)

The forklift itself can cause hazards and these may include:

Mechanical conditions (Is the forklift in good condition, with working brakes,steering, mast assembly, motor/engine, hydraulic systems, electronics, indicators
and horn, to name a few?)
Safety devices (Are all the forklift’s safety devices working correctly?)
Controls (Are the controls and display working correctly, unobstructed and set outwell?)
Emissions (Does the forklift meet emissions standards?)

In a shared space, people may cause hazards. These include:

Traffic-ways and walkways (Is there a clear distinction between pedestrian walkwaysand forklift traffic-ways? Are there clear indicators to let people know when a forklift
is being used?)
Awareness (Are people working in the same vicinity aware of how to avoid theforklift and how to work around it? i.e, not walking under the forks. Are people
taught how to let the driver know they are around and vice versa?)
Restrictions (Are restrictions put in place to avoid forklift use during high pedestriantraffic times or in high traffic areas?)

From this example, a safety checklist can now be made, listing the steps that need to be

taken prior to use of forklifts. For a more detailed understanding of forklift hazards and

safety, ACE Forklift Training Centre is always on hand to help you train safely. We can come

to your workplace premises and take four or more people through training, leaving you with

highly competent and safety-aware forklift drivers. Contact us for more information on

obtaining a forklift licence for you or your employees.