While South Africa does not have statistics, data in the US say there are approximately 100 000 forklift accidents per year resulting in over 94 000 injuries.

This does not only have serious and even tragic consequences for forklift operators but expensive ones for your business.

An accident causes employee downtime, damage to property and the forklift and loss of the goods being moved. The worst possibility of all: one of your customers being injured in an accident.

International studies suggest proper maintenance of forklifts and training of their operators are the best ways to reduce forklift accidents on your premises.

According to the Managing Director of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, “You will not only avoid negative consequences of forklift accidents but even make more money. When operators are fully competent they complete tasks more quickly and increase productivity.

“Training is also a legal requirement for many businesses. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, operators need to be trained for the specific forklift of which they make use. An operator may not use a forklift unless they have received such training,” says Herbert.

Not only will operators learn about the finer techniques of operating a forklift but about risk areas like loading bays and speeding.

Loading bays are notoriously the place where most accidents occur because of challenges like poor visibility, increased activity and limited manoeuvrability.

Training teaches them how to handle a risky situation in a loading bay and how to quickly rectify mistakes.

5 tips for safe forklift operation

1. Never speed
2. Avoid abrupt stops
3. Give pedestrians right of way
4. Do not allow additionally people on the forklift
5. Never raise and lower loads while moving