Forklift Operator. Version 1.0

Transcription

1 Forklift Operator This document is intended to provide basic safety guidelines for the Physical Plant Department at Community College of Allegheny County. The information provided in this guide may vary by site. Version 1.0

2 Table of Contents I. Objective II. III. IV. Assignment of Responsibilities Forklift Inventory Designated Areas V. Forklift Capacity and Attachment Labeling VI. VII. VIII. IX. Forklift Inspections and Maintenance Forklift Batteries Operator Safety Training Appendices A. Forklift Inventory Form B. Designated Facility Operating Areas C. Operator s Daily Checklist: Electric Forklift D. Operator s Daily Checklist: Gas or LPG Forklift 2

3 I. OBJECTIVE Community College of Allegheny County The major goal of Community College of Allegheny County in creating a Forklift Compliance Program is to minimize the number of accidents and injuries due to incidents involving forklifts which are operated by our employees. Because we recognize that a number of employees are affected by our use of forklifts, we have committed ourselves to doing as much as is practically possible to protect them from incidents involving this equipment. II. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES Plan Administrator The Physical Plant Supervisor shall manage and update the Forklift Safety Plan for Community College of Allegheny County and maintain all records pertaining to the plan. Management Community College of Allegheny County will implement this plan and provide safe equipment that, when used properly, will minimize or eliminate risk of occupational injuries and deaths. Community College of Allegheny County management will ensure proper adherence to this plan through periodic audits. Supervisors Supervisors shall themselves follow and ensure their employees are trained in and follow proper forklift safety procedures as outlined in this plan. Employees Employees are responsible for adhering to proper forklift safety procedures as described in this plan. Employees are also responsible for reporting all accidents or near misses to their supervisor immediately or within a reasonable time frame. III. FORKLIFT INVENTORY In order for our employees to know exactly what forklifts are available for their use and which areas of our operation each truck can safely operate in, we periodically conduct an inventory of our forklifts, using Appendix A. The Responsible Person is the person who is responsible for seeing that these inventories are completed. The inventory form allows us to record the following information about our forklifts: Manufacturer Model Serial number Capacity Attachments that may be used with the forklift Designated areas where the forklift may be operated 3

4 IV. DESIGNATED AREAS To make it as easy as possible for our employees to know which of our forklifts may be used safely in the various work areas they operate in, we have also created a list of designated facility operating areas, which can be used as a quick reference for this information (see Appendix B). It allows us to record the following information: The name of the work area The location of the work area within our facility V. FORKLIFT CAPACITY AND ATTACHMENT LABELING We periodically inspect our forklifts to make sure they are properly labeled/tagged. The Responsible Person is responsible for this activity. To facilitate these inspections, the completed Forklift Inventory Form Appendix A may be used. The following information should appear on the label or name plate of the forklift: Manufacturer Model/type Serial number The weight of the forklift The forklift's capacity The forklift's usage designation VI. FORKLIFT INSPECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE In order to make sure that our powered industrial trucks are maintained appropriately and are functioning correctly, they are inspected before each use (or in the case of trucks that are used around-the-clock, after each shift). The Responsible Person is responsible for making sure that these inspections are carried out appropriately. See attachment C and D. If the inspection of one of our forklifts indicates that it is in need of maintenance or if a forklift is damaged during operation, we immediately remove the forklift from service and schedule it for maintenance. The Responsible Person is responsible for overseeing these activities. To make sure we have a comprehensive record of the maintenance that is performed on each of our forklifts, we use a computerized preventative maintenance system. This system allows us to record the following information: Truck serial number The date maintenance was performed on the truck The type of work that was performed The employee that performed the work 4

5 VII. FORKLIFT BATTERIES We recognize that maintaining and installing the batteries in our forklifts is one of the most dangerous maintenance activities our employees engage in. The Responsible Person is responsible for making sure the following are in each of our battery service areas: A charged ABC fire extinguisher Protective guards around the charging apparatus Appropriate battery handling equipment Personal protective equipment A functioning eyewash station VIII. OPERATOR SAFETY TRAINING We understand that a large percentage of accidents involving forklifts are due to operator error. In order to make sure that our employees are appropriately trained before operating their forklifts, they are given both classroom and hands-on instruction in the following areas: The contents of the OSHA Standard 29 CFR Types & characteristics of forklifts Pre-operational inspections Basic driving, stability and load handling Fuels & batteries Attachments We also provide our truck operators with retraining under the following circumstances: If they have been involved in an accident or near-miss incident If they have been observed operating their truck in an unsafe manner If they have been assigned to drive a different type of truck than they have been trained on At least every three years The Responsible Person is responsible for overseeing these training activities. They will also make sure that new employees in our facilities have had the appropriate training before they are allowed to operate forklifts and that each forklift operator undergoes a performance evaluation at least once every three years. Records are kept In order to make sure that employees are receiving the training they need, as well as to document this training. 5

6 Appendix A Forklift Inventory Form Community College of Allegheny County Campus/Center # Manufacturer Model Serial # Capacity Use Designation Attachments 6

7 Appendix B Designated Facility Operating Areas Community College of Allegheny County Campus/Center 7

8 Appendix C Operator s Pre-usage Checklist: Electric Forklift Check each item before usage. Put a check in the box if the item is OK. Explain any unchecked items at the bottom and report them to a supervisor. Do not use an unsafe forklift! Your safety is at risk. Forklift Serial Number: Date: Operator: Hour Meter Reading: Visual Check Tires are inflated and free of excessive wear or damage. Lug nuts are tight. Forks and mast are not bent, worn or cracked. Load back rest extension is in place and not bent, cracked or loose. Overhead guard is in place and not bent, cracked or loose. Attachments (if equipped) operate OK and are not damaged. Forklift body is free of excessive lint, grease or oil. Hydraulic oil is full and free of leaks. Battery connections are tight. Covers over battery and other hazardous parts are in place and secure. Load rating plate is present and readable. Warning decals and operator s manual are present and readable. Seat belt or restraint is accessible and not damaged, oily or dirty. Motor runs smooth without sudden acceleration. Horn works. Turn signal (if equipped) operates smoothly. Lights (head, tail and warning) work and are aimed correctly. Gauges and instruments are working. Lift and lower operates smoothly without excess drift. Tilt operates smoothly without excessive drift or "chatter." Control levers are labeled, not loose or binding and freely return to neutral. Battery charge level is OK while holding full forward tilt. Steering is smooth and responsive, free of excessive play. Brakes work and function smoothly without grabbing. No fluid leaks. Parking brake will hold the forklift on an incline. Backup alarm (if equipped) works. 8

9 Appendix D Operator s Pre-usage Checklist: Gas or LPG Forklift Check each item before the shift starts. Put a check in the box if the item is OK. Explain any unchecked items at the bottom and report them to a supervisor. Do not use an unsafe forklift! Your safety is at risk. Forklift Serial Number: Date: Operator: Hour Meter Reading: Visual Check Tires are inflated and free of excessive wear or damage. Lug nuts are tight. Forks and mast are not bent, worn or cracked. Load back rest extension is in place and not bent, cracked or loose. Overhead guard is in place and not bent, cracked or loose. Attachments (if equipped) operate OK and are not damaged. Forklift body is free of excessive lint, grease or oil. Engine oil is full and free of leaks. Hydraulic oil is full and free of leaks. Radiator is full and free of leaks. Fuel level is OK and free of leaks. Battery connections are tight. Covers over battery and other hazardous parts are in place and secure. Load rating plate is present and readable. Warning decals and operator s manual are present and readable. Seat belt or restraint is accessible and not damaged, oily or dirty. Engine runs smooth and quiet without leaks or sparks from the exhaust. Horn works. Turn signal (if equipped) operates smoothly. Lights (head, tail and warning) work and are aimed correctly. Gauges and instruments are working. Lift and lower operates smoothly without excess drift. Tilt operates smoothly without excessive drift or "chatter." Control levers are labeled, not loose or binding and freely return to neutral. Steering is smooth and responsive, free of excessive play. Brakes work and function smoothly without grabbing. No fluid leaks. Parking brake will hold the forklift on an incline. Backup alarm (if equipped) works. 9