and load backrest extension provides reasonable
protection against a falling object but cannot protect you
against every impact. A forklift without an overhead
guard provides no protection. For this reason, you
should never attempt to pickup any loose, unstable, or
stacked load if it appears that any part of the elevated
load might topple through or over the top of the upright
or fall on anybody standing nearby. You should also
avoid hitting certain objects, such as stacked material,
that could become dislodged and fall. Do not move your
forklift around with the load carriage elevated. These
rules apply whether or not your forklift is equipped with
an overhead guard and are important if you are not
protected by an overhead guard. Enforcing these rules
may mean a smaller load, but you are protecting yourself
and others working in your area.
2. Use a secured safety platform when lifting
personnel. A forklift is built for only one rider—the
operator. Because of the hazardous conditions that
can result, it is unauthorized for anyone to ride the
forks of a forklift or hitch a ride in any manner. If a
forklift is used to elevate workers, a safety platform
must be secured to the forks. The platform should be
specially built and secured to keep it from slipping
from the forks, and it should have a solid floor and
handrail (fig. 8-25).
3. Keep arms and legs inside the operator’s
compartment. Holding them outside the machine can
be dangerous in narrow aisles.
4. Keep yourself and all others clear of the hoisting
mechanisms. NEVER PUT HANDS, ARMS, HEAD,
O R L E G S T H R O U G H T H E H O I S T I NG
MECHANISM. This rule applies to both you and the
rigger. A rigger should not be near the load or hoisting
mechanism while you are attempting to pick up, hoist,
or deposit a load.
5. Never allow anyone under the load.
6. Report damaged or faulty equipment
immediately—do not operate a forklift that is unsafe.
You can complete a job with a forklift safely only when
it is working correctly; therefore, a forklift should never
be operated when it is not running properly.
7. Avoid bumps, holes, slick spots, and loose
materials that may cause your forklift to swerve or tip
over. Different models of forklifts are designed to
operate under different conditions.
Although large
forklifts can adapt to more uneven ground, do not expect
them to maintain their balance under abusive ground
conditions. Try to pick the smoothest areas when
moving material from one place to another.
Figure 8-25.—Safety platform.
8. Travel slowly in narrow aisles and around
corners, especially blind corners. To help avoid
collisions, you should sound your horn in advance.
9. Lower the carriage completely, and set the
parking brake before leaving your forklift. Block the
wheels when parking on an incline or working on the
forklift. These rules apply under all conditions, even if
you are only going to leave your forklift for a moment.
A driverless forklift does not have to move far in close
quarters to cause serious injury.
10. Do not turn on an incline. For stability, a forklift
should not be driven along the side of an incline that
leans the forklift sideways. Always keep either the rear
end or front end of the forklift pointed up or down the
slope.
11. Do not fill the fuel tank while the engine is
running.
12. Sudden starts and stops cause premature wear
on parts of the forklift, such as axles and gears, and
cause tires to wear faster. Personnel nearby may
become injured and materials may be damaged by a
forklift suddenly going into motion or going out of
control.
13. Because a forklift is designed to perform so
many functions within a small space, you must
anticipate certain clearance situations. As an operator,
you must be aware the forks will sometimes protrude
beyond the front of the load. Because of this, you may
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