Introduction to Rough Terrain Forklift Safety

Course Description:

Rough terrain forklifts are a special class of forklifts, known as Class 7 powered industrial trucks, that are designed to carry heavy loads safely indoors and outdoors on rugged and sloped surfaces and in adverse weather conditions. This presentation will review the hazards and explain what you can do to prevent accidents and injuries when operating these lift trucks. The course does not cover vehicles used for earth-moving or over-the-road hauling.

Why “Introduction to Rough Terrain Forklift Safety” Matters:

Experience proves that operators who are properly trained, keep within the forklift’s load capacity, and follow rules of safe operation avoid tipovers and accidents.

In one recent year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited 2,858 violations of rules related to powered industrial trucks and assessed nearly $1.8 million in penalties.

According to U.S. government statistics, forklift-related accidents account for nearly 20,000 injuries and nearly 100 fatalities per year.

Key Points:

• Operating a rough terrain forklift exposes you to many hazards.
• You must know how to safely load, unload, and drive a rough terrain forklift to prevent accidents and injuries.
• You have to understand stability principles as well as how to prevent tipovers.
• Never operate a rough terrain forklift unless you are trained and authorized.