Employee safety is an important factor in every industry. According to the International Labor Organization, more than 2.78 million people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases each year.

Cleanliness is a foundational element to any successful safety culture. In today’s environment, it’s also a topic of many discussions and the emphasis of new protocols across industries – and the world. 

A forklift is a powered truck used to carry, lift, or tier materials. The vehicles, also called pallet trucks, fork trucks, or lift trucks, can be powered by combustion engines or electric battery and are extremely useful and time-efficient for completing laborious construction projects. However, they can also be dangerous if not safely and correctly operated. Here are several safety tips that forklift truck drivers should adhere to each time they operate the vehicle.

Each day that they are in use, forklifts and other types of powered industrial equipment must be inspected prior to operation. But often, not nearly as much thought is given to the battery charging stations that keep many of these essential machines running.

Safety circuits used in machine guarding applications incorporate devices such as sensors and relays to de-energize equipment if any hazardous condition is detected. These conditions normally involve a machine guard not being closed, a presence sensor detecting personnel in an unsafe area or the triggering of an emergency stop function.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) will hold its annual Product Safety & Compliance seminar April 20-22 Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, MO.