Lift trucks are handy tools found on the sites of many businesses. Although essential to the conduct of day-to-day business, lift trucks generally don't add any value to the company's product. Handled improperly, though, they can add cost. This article will explain what you can do to reduce the risk of a lift truck incident. There's also a pre-shift checklist in the Tools section of SafetyXChange that you can adapt for your workplace.

The Equipment

Lift truck safety starts with the actual equipment. It is critical that lift trucks be right for the materials and goods to be moved. They must also be properly maintained on an ongoing basis. Proper maintenance is essential not only to ensure safe and efficient handling, but since lift trucks are fueled by propane, to preserve the air quality in your workplace.

The Work Setting

Lift trucks must be operated in a work setting that allows for safe use and maximum efficiency. Among other things, aisles must be wide enough to accommodate the turning radius of the lift truck.

The Operator

Lift trucks must be handled by a well-trained and competent operator. A lift truck operator needs to have:

• An understanding of the operation of the truck, including its stability, capacity and load security;
• An appreciation of the hazards associated with the particular load being handled by the lift truck; and
• Proper driving techniques.

The Training

Many of the above qualities can be taught in the classroom. But success in the classroom doesn't necessarily translate into safe and efficient operation. That's why operators must also be allowed to put the skills they're taught into practice in the course of an on-the-truck session. This way you can observe the operators and how well they apply the skills in real-work situations.

A lift truck operator should demonstrate efficient handling techniques and ability within the workplace using typical loads. Assess their skills in:

• Racking;
• Stacking;
• Trailer loading;
• Ramp use; and
• Dock use.

The Pre-Use Assessment Checklist

A key part of operator competency is effectiveness in checking the lift truck before using it. This can vary from the start-of-the-shift detail check to a simple walk-around periodically during the day.

You can use the pre-shift checklist found in the Tools section to perform this assessment. Of course, there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all model for this kind of thing. But the checklist in the Tools section is deliberately generic to facilitate adaptation to your own equipment and site procedures.

You'll also need to be flexible in how you use it. For example, you may decide to have a maintenance person complete certain parts of the checklist and make the operator responsible for conducting a visual walk-around and operational check.

Conclusion

For lift trucks to be a cost-effective tool for your business, you need to look at the whole picture and check the operating environment, the operator competency and the lift truck maintenance. I hope this short guide and accompanying checklist will help you in your efforts.

PASSOVER SAFETY

Have a Safe Seder

By Glenn Demby

Tomorrow is Passover, the annual commemoration of God's deliverance of the Jewish people from the bondage of Ancient Egypt. As you might know, the focal point of the Passover celebration is the seder, or feast, which is preceded by certain rituals.

Here are six Passover safety tips from the New York Board of Rabbis. We hope this list will accomplish two purposes:

• Ensuring the safety of those of you who will be preparing for and partaking in a seder tomorrow night; and
• Teaching the members of SafetyXChange who are not familiar with Passover something about the holiday.

1. Don't Let Kids near Boiling Water when Getting Ready to Clean for Passover

Explanation: When the Jewish slaves fled Egypt, they didn't have time to bake leavened bread, or chametz. So they took unleavened bread or matzoh, instead. During Passover, Jewish people eat only matzoh; and they're instructed to use boiling water to clean their homes of chametz.

2. Beware that Oven Cleaners Can Cause Severe Burns

Explanation: Cleaning the oven is part of the ridding the home of chametz. It's okay to use "Easy-Off" and other oven cleaners, even though such conveniences didn't exist in biblical times.

3. Watch Out for Candles during Bedikat Chemitz

Explanation: Bedikat chemitz is the ritual use of a candle to search the home for traces of chemitz, a process that, if done carelessly, could ignite drapes, sofas and tablecloths.

4. Be Extra Cautious when Burning Chemitz

Explanation: When you gather up all the chemitz in your home, you're supposed to burn it. The rabbis recommend keeping a close eye on kids, implementing a buddy system and refraining from using accelerants to intensify the flame. Sound advice.

5.  Turn Pot Handles Inward to Keep Pots from Being Knocked Over

Explanation: This one is pretty self-evident. A lot of cooking is done to prepare for the seder. Much of it involves stewing and boiling items in large pots.

6. Keep Candles in the Center of the Table/Sideboard

Explanation: This one, too, is pretty easy to figure out. Various sets of candles are laid onto the seder table. The rabbis suggest putting them in the center of the table or sideboard so kids can't reach them or pull them down.

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Have a happy and safe Passover, everybody.

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