Masonry Magazine August 1994 Page. 16
Rough Terrain Forklift
Safety Guide
Even under severe operating conditions the majority of all rough terrain forklift accidents can be prevented if the operator develops defensive driving habits so that he's constantly alert to the ever-changing conditions on the jobsite.
Even under severe operating conditions, the majority of all rough terrain fork lift accidents can be prevented if the operator develops "defensive" driving habits so that he's constantly alert to the ever-changing conditions on the jobsite. These conditions are important, since they determine the speed at which he can operate the fork lift safely. Some of the conditions that are likely to be present are:
* Obstructed vision
* Wet ground-mud, snow, rain
* Uneven terrain-holes, rocks, slopes, railroad tracks, ditches, banks, pits
* Changes in lighting conditions (going from outside to inside, or vice versa)
* Different load capacities of docks, bridges, floors
* Overhead conditions-ducts, doors, pipes, wires (especially electrical)
* Other workers or observers
* Objects in path-nails, reinforcing bars, planks, scaffold braces
* Other vehicles
* Blind corners
* Oily spots on hard surfaces
These are some of the conditions which you may encounter on a masonry job site. Let's review the proper safety approach for each of these conditions.
Obstructed Vision
The operator's eyes should constantly be moving, watching for hazards. The operator should also always be aware of the location of the fork tips. For this reason, the operator's eyesight should be good, and there should be no obstructions in his path of vision.
It is extremely important for the operator to see clearly, not only to see the route to be traveled and any hazards on that route, but also to see other people or vehicles approaching. If the load being carried obscures the operator's vision, he should drive the fork lift in reverse, looking backwards in the direction of travel. When such reverse operation is necessary, slower speeds should be used, since it's not as convenient to operate the controls while looking backwards.
Wet and Uneven Ground
Wet, snowy, rainy, and muddy conditions cannot always be avoided. In many cases the block or bricklayers may be working in an enclosed building during bad weather. When this is the case, the materials being used need to be transported from the outside to the inside. This means that the fork lift operator must be able to move the materials through adverse ground conditions.
When it's necessary to work under these conditions, certain good driving habits will help make the job easier. Choose as smooth a path as possible, avoiding ruts. Finding the smoothest route possible is important since any jolts are transmitted to the load being carried. All loads are to be carried with boom retracted and/or forks lowered.
Avoid spinning the wheels as much as possible, since this causes ruts. If the path you have chosen stays in good condition, continue to use it. If not, find another.
If the equipment is being used in four-wheel drive in muddy conditions, attempt to have the rear wheels follow the same path as the leading wheels. This will require only one set of tracks to be broken through rough spots since the rear wheels will trail in the path broken by the leading wheels.
If the wheels can travel in the same paths and all turn at approximately the same rate, the equipment will be easier to control.