Could You Pass a Forklift Driving Exam?

A forklift is a specialty vehicle that is used to lift things. To lift those things, the two prongs or forks are placed underneath the items you want to lift, engage the machinery and let it do the rest.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has requirements that forklift trucks must be checked at least daily before they can be placed into service. If the forklift is used round-the-clock, it must then be examined after each shift.

When working in a typical warehouse that has an even surface, place the forks about 5 to 10 centimeters off the ground. This would be a height to make it through a wooden pallet and also stop you from scraping the ground.

When approaching an intersection, a driver is advised to slow down, stop and honk the horn. This is also the case at corners and if the driver's view is ever obstructed.

When a driver sees this, they should leave the load or stack alone. Then mark off the area with ropes so no one else can attempt anything with it and let their supervisor know about the problem.

You are blasting the horn because you want to be seen and heard, so you need to draw more attention to yourself. This can be done by doing a series of short blasts instead of one long, continuous horn sound.

For safety reasons, only the driver of a forklift truck can be on the vehicle. No passengers are allowed on a forklift truck, per OSHA rules.

In a warehouse, you never know when boxes or loose items may fall from shelves. To protect the driver from shifting materials above, the overhead guard is in place.

Snow isn't good for any type of forklift. This is because of the weight per square foot contacting the ground. If you absolutely must drive a forklift in snow, be alert and make sure it is properly warmed up before doing so. And remember to drive slowly!

No matter how much you practice safety measures, the forklift truck may tip sometimes. If this happens, you are going to want to stay in your seat, don't jump, grip the wheel securely and brace yourself using your feet.

There are forklift trucks powered by gasoline and diesel. There are also electric forklifts. However, there are no air-cooled powered trucks out there.

Your lift trucks’ Operation and Maintenance Manuals (OMM) should tell you what to inspect during your daily inspection. The items would include checking the seat belt, warning lights and any leaking fuel, among other things.

If you are driving the forklift, you have to be trained in driving it. However, that training only needs to be conducted again as a refresher if issues come up with a driver. OSHA provides the rules and regulations, not training.

Surprised? Well, OSHA does not require forklift operators to pass a vision or hearing test. However, they issue a letter of interpretation, saying that employers are the ones who determine if full vision is mandatory to drive a forklift.

You do not want to block the doorway when refueling. In case of an explosion or another type of emergency, the doorway should remain open so you can get out of the area.

When parking the forklift truck, you are going to want to make sure to do all of the points listed, except leave the engine running. Once all of the other elements have been completed, make sure you also turn off the engine.

A pinch point is any area where a worker might get a body part caught, like a hand or foot. If a machine moves or has a moving part, it can create a pinch point.

OSHA said that forklifts are responsible for the fourth highest number of fatalities when it comes to back-overs. That is why reverse alarms are placed and used on forklifts.

When it comes to the safety of a forklift truck, the driver is the most essential aspect of that safety. They are the ones controlling the speed and turns, and when the backup alarm goes off or the horn is blown.

OSHA is an agency in the United States Department of Labor. It was established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed into law in 1970 by President Richard Nixon.

Regardless of how much safety we put into it, a forklift does tip over sometimes. This is especially true when the driver is driving at very fast speeds.

While the other answers are also dangerous, not paying attention causes the most forklift-related accidents. The driver needs to stay focused at all times, as they can't miss anything going on around them when operating this equipment.

When turning, you are going to want to slow down the forklift. With a slower speed, you have a better chance of maintaining control and balance when making those turns.

The speed would vary for a forklift truck, as it would depend on the load being carried. You also have to factor in the working conditions to determine the speed.

You do not want to raise the load, as there are height restrictions, and you don't want to keep honking the horn and hope everyone moves. By driving in reverse, you are still moving the load and seeing any dangers that may pop up.

For a forklift truck, the center of gravity is near the center of the forklift. Because of that, you never want to turn while driving up or down a ramp or slope. It could cause your truck to tip over and your load to spill.

The driver should use the horn when approaching an intersection. These tend to be busier areas, so you want to make sure your presence is also known to everyone coming to that intersection.

If the brakes go out, you may freak out, which is why a plan should be in place. In this circumstance, lowering the forks would help slow down the vehicle.

The manufacturer would know more about what is allowed or not allowed. If they allow fork extensions, then you could use them for a longer load.

When it comes to moving a series of forklift trucks, they should be considered the same as vehicles on the road. You should allow a safe braking distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Oil on the ground is dangerous for a forklift, so it needs to be addressed immediately. That is why the driver should stop, get out, and clean it right away.

Forklifts should not be used for fun and games, especially on the job. People should never be lifted on a forklift, so there is no proper way to do it.

You do not want a flame near the forklift when refueling. When refueling or recharging, open flames, smoke and any possible source of ignition is prohibited within 10 meters of the truck.

For the safety checklist, you are going to want to include oil and fuel levels, as well as the lights and horn because they should be checked at the same time. The load capacity is so the driver knows the maximum load allowed.

By leaving the forklift truck running or with the key in it, it allows unauthorized people to use it. Forklifts are more dangerous than people think, so all safety precautions need to be followed.