In cars, seat belt keeps you restrained during collision. It keeps you safe during initial impact. On the other hand, if you were working on a forklift, seat belt can save you by retraining your body during tip over. The natural intuition of the operator when forklift starts to tip over is to get out of the cabin. The safety belt prevents the operator from jumping out that may cause him to being crushed.
Tipping over is common accident involving forklifts. It is the cause of 100 deaths each year. Accident investigation and statistics show that if operator had not moved inside the forklift cabin, he would still be with his loved ones and walked out with just minor scratches and bruises. Staying inside the guard of the truck, increases chance of surviving the accident.
Forklift Seat Belts Serves as Safety Device
Retraining devices such as seat belts are made not to make your life complicated. It is put there to make you safe from harm and danger. If you are asking why do you need to wear seat belt while operating forklift, then here are some of the important reasons:
- It prevents the operator from being tossed out of the forklift cabin during collision. You do not want to get thrown out and hit the pavement with great force. The most severe situation you can be is at the hospital and not in the morgue if you worn your seat belt.
- Forklift operators behave differently from each other, some may be rude, many are mannered, whatever you may be, seat belt keeps you in the seated, confining you inside the overhead guard so that your head and limbs won’t protrude.
- It prevent operator from jumping out of the forklift cabin when overturning happens. As I mentioned above, tipping over is common occurrence industrial setup, it causes the driver to jump out and pay dearly with life. I don’t what you to be included in the statistics, wear your belt at all times.
Requirements in Different Countries
In the United States
In the United States, OSHA does not have specific standard for implementing the use of seat belts on forklifts. However, in its Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) Section 5(a)(1), it clearly says that the employer has the sole obligation of protecting their workers from harms and dangers. Provision of retraining system such as seat belt is one such example.
ASME B56.1-1993 - Safety Standard states that all forklifts manufactured after the year 1992 must have a restraint system or over head protection that will aid workers for surviving tip over accident and reducing severity of injury.
In the UK
From date of 5 December 2002, Health and Safety Executive orders that certain types of fork truck such as rough terrain trucks, counterbalance and side loaders must have some sort of restraining device (e.g: seat belt or safety belt). For forklifts that don’t have such devices installed must be fitted with such restraining system if the risk analysis requires it. The analysis will determine if there is considerable risks of overturning and provision of seat belt is necessary.
In Canada
Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304), 14-7, states that seat belt must be fitted to a motorized handling vehicle that will contribute to the safety of the operator.
The WorkSafeBC 16.32 Provision states that heavy equipment with ROPS must have seat belts in accordance to SAE Standard J386 JUN93. The operator must use the provided seat belt whenever the equipment is in motion or under operation.
In Australia
Regulation 4.44 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 states that employer must make sure that forklift operators must wear seat belts. In the event that such accident happened and worker is not wearing seat belt, the employer could be penalized.
To Answer the Question Do Forklift Operators Need to Wear Seat Belt
The obvious answer is YES. It is a good practice to equip the truck with such safety strap to protect workers. It protects the worker from falling out of the forklift that may cause him serious injury. It is also compliance to the current law and legislation of the country where you are situated.
There is an instance I’ve encountered in the past that worker ignore to wear the belt because it limits his movement while driving, he was cited by the company several violations, but continued to do his unsafe practice, his repeated failure caused him his job. He was terminated.
There was also a company somewhere in California that did not comply with OSHA, the company did not know that they are violating the OSHA, when inspector visits their premise, one of the violations cited was workers were not wearing seat belt, because of this simple violation, the company was fined for $25,000. It is a very hefty fine for just simple act of ignorance.
If you are an employer or employee, provision and wearing seat belt makes a difference.
Seat Belt Laws
In the United States, there is no federal law that requires workers to wear seat belts while operating a forklift. However, some states and cities have adopted their own seat belt laws for forklifts. For example, California requires workers to wear seat belts while operating a forklift on a public road. New York City also has a seat belt law for forklifts, which requires operators to wear seat belts while the forklift is in motion.
While there is no federal law mandating the use of seat belts on forklifts, many safety experts recommend that workers always wear seat belts while operating a forklift. Seat belts can help prevent serious injuries in the event of a forklift accident. In addition, many forklift manufacturers require operators to wear seat belts while operating their forklifts.
There are many debate whether or not seat belts should be required on forklifts. Some say that they are not necessary because the operator is not moving very fast and is not at a great height. Others say that seat belts are essential because even a small fall could cause serious injuries.
In my opinion, seat belts should be required on forklifts. Even though the operator may not be moving very fast, they are still handling heavy loads and could easily lose control of the forklift - the result is a tip over. Tip over causes serious injuries to operator, and seat belts would help to prevent serious injury.
What to Do If Injured in a Forklift Accident
If you are injured in a forklift accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. If your injuries are serious, you should go to the hospital immediately. If your injuries are not serious, you can still go to the hospital or your doctor to get checked out.
Once you have seen a medical professional, you should then contact a lawyer who specializes in forklift accidents. This lawyer will be able to help you navigate the workers’ compensation system and ensure that you receive the benefits you are entitled to.
The lawyer will also be able to help you if you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit against the company that owns the forklift. This is important because companies are typically only liable for accidents if they were caused by the negligence of the company.
If you have been injured in a forklift accident, it is important to take action right away to ensure that you are compensated for your injuries.
How to Prevent Forklift Accidents
There are many ways to prevent forklift accidents, but one of the most important is to make sure that seat belts are worn at all times. This may seem like a no-brainer, but many forklift operators do not wear seat belts because they are uncomfortable or they think they do not need them. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious injuries or even death if an accident does occur.
Wearing a seat belt is the best way to protect yourself in the event of a forklift accident. Seat belts help to keep you in the seat and prevent you from being ejected from the forklift. They also help to absorb some of the impact in the event of a collision.
In addition to wearing a seat belt, it is also important to be aware of your surroundings at all times. This means knowing where the other forklifts are and what they are doing. It is also important to be aware of any obstacles in your path. By being aware of your surroundings, you can avoid potential accidents.
Finally, it is important to always follow the proper safety procedures when operating a forklift. This includes using the proper hand signals, obeying all traffic laws, and using the horn to warn other drivers of your presence. By following the proper safety procedures, you can help to prevent accidents.
Forklift safety tips
Forklifts are a vital piece of equipment in many industries, but they can also be very dangerous. Here are some forklift safety tips to help keep you and your workers safe:
- Always wear a seat belt when operating a forklift.
- Be aware of your surroundings and do not operate the forklift in areas where there are pedestrians or other vehicles.
- Do not overload the forklift and be careful when lifting heavy loads.
- Do not drive the forklift too fast and be sure to use the horn when necessary.
- Be sure to keep the forklift’s load low to the ground to avoid tipping.
- Always park the forklift in a safe area and turn off the engine before leaving the vehicle.
- Do not allow anyone to stand on the forks of the forklift while it is in operation.
- Do not use the forklift to transport people.
- Be sure to maintain the forklift according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Always report any accidents or injuries immediately.
By following these forklift safety tips, you can help create a safe work environment for everyone.
Most forklift-related accidents are due to operator error, such as driving too fast, not paying attention, or not properly maintaining the equipment. However, one of the most preventable causes of forklift accidents is not wearing a seat belt.
While seat belts are not required by law on forklifts, OSHA recommends that all operators use them. Seat belts can help prevent serious injuries or even death in the event of a tip-over or collision.
There are some employers who believe that seat belts are unnecessary and can actually be dangerous on a forklift. They argue that if a forklift tips over, the operator can be trapped by the seat belt and suffocate.
However, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted studies that show seat belts can actually help prevent operators from being ejected from the forklift during a tip-over.
In the end, the decision to require seat belts on forklifts is up to the employer. However, given the risks associated with not wearing a seat belt, it is strongly recommended that all forklift operators use one.
Getting Trained & Certified Today
Forklifts are essential pieces of equipment in many warehouses and factories, but they can also be dangerous. That’s why it’s important for operators to receive proper training before using a forklift.
Most forklift training programs will cover topics such as how to safely operate the equipment, how to load and unload materials, and what to do in case of an accident. Many employers will also require their employees to pass a written test and a practical skills test before being allowed to operate a forklift.
Most companies that use forklifts require that their employees be certified in order to operate them. If you would like to get certified today, take the online training. Here's a provider we recommend.
Conclusion
The leading cause of deaths of forklift drivers is truck overturning and being struck by guard and crushed by weight of the forklift as he tries to jump out of the cabin when the truck tips over. It is bad decision to make. In a split second decision, always choose to stay inside and brace for impact. You may be shaken by the impact, had some bruises, fractured bones, but at least you still be going home to your family still with your limbs intact.
Always wear your forklift seat belt during operation and while the truck is in motion, it is required by law and it will save your life.
