Forklift Safety

Overview/Description
 Operating powered industrial trucks, commonly known as forklifts, can be very dangerous if proper forklift safety principles are not followed. Serious injury or death can result from the improper handling of forklifts. Each year, tens of thousands of forklift-related injuries occur in U.S. workplaces. Injuries usually involve forklift overturns, employees on foot being struck by forklifts, or operators falling from forklifts. Most forklift accidents are caused by a lack of procedures, inadequate training, or a lack of safety-rule compliance and enforcement. This course presents information on forklift basics, forklift safety features, pre-use inspection, and refueling and recharging. It also covers forklift stability, safe operating procedures, and techniques for safely handling and moving loads. This course addresses 29 CFR 1910, Subpart N, Section 178. This SkillSoft Corporation training course has been reviewed by attorneys from the law firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, PA, of Manchester, New Hampshire and Boston, Massachusetts for accuracy under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the "Act") and certain regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA"), as to the matters covered and as of the date reviewed. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information in this course may become outdated.

Target Audience
 Employees in general industry who work with or around forklifts

Expected Duration
4.0 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Forklift Basics

  • identify the benefits of understanding forklift safety.
  • match the hazardous situations with the types of accidents that may result.
  • match the appropriate safety feature to each specific situation when operating a forklift.
  • select the appropriate use of forklift safety features.
  • determine when to perform a pre-use inspection.
  • use the Pre-use Inspection Checklist to identify missing safety checks in example inspection scenarios.
  • identify steps for refueling a gasoline or diesel forklift.
  • identify steps for recharging an electric forklift.

    • Operating a Forklift

  • recognize the benefits of understanding forklift operation.
  • recognize what makes a forklift unstable.
  • predict likely stability outcomes based on the load capacity and load center in a given situation.
  • classify safe and unsafe operating procedures involving forklifts.
  • make recommendations for safe operating procedures in a given situation.
  • match load-handling techniques with types of loads.
  • make recommendations for load-handling techniques in a given scenario.
  • match forklift operation techniques with specific conditions.

    • Course Number: SFTY0121