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QUESTION:I would welcome suggestions on how to fit 2 old forktrucks (15+ years) with
seatbelts to comply with the new Forklift standard. Our vendor says an entire
seat assembly needs to be purchased, at a cost of $1800. There's gotta be a
better way!
ANSWER: Don't get into the deathtrap caused by thinking you can "escape" from a
forklift in the event of an incident! It was stated that someone
involved in a roll-over type incident is likely to be fatally injured -
this is as true as it gets but not for the reasons most would think.
Trying to "Escape" or being out of position causes just about all the
injuries/fatalities.
In a roll-over incident the driver's fight or flight instinct takes over
(something that must be overcome in training) and escape looks like the
best solution. Here's the problem; if you want to escape, the quickest
way is by reaching the ground as soon as possible and running away. The
forklift unfortunately is also rolling toward the same spot of ground.
(If it is a rollover, the ground will be closest on the side the
forklift is rolling to - going "up", opposite the direction of the roll
is not typically the response of humans.) In order to escape, the
driver must exit, get to the ground, position for escape and run. The
speed of gravity is far faster and statistically 90% or more of the time
the forklift will come down on top of the driver.
But wait, there's more. Even when a driver doesn't try to escape,
serious injury can and will result from being out of position when the
forklift rolls. If the driver isn't strapped in and doesn't have the
time to grip and brace to hold their body in the seat (or isn't properly
trained to grip and brace!), a body part that gets outside of the cage
during a rollover will definitely be crushed when the forklift comes
down. What about situations where the driver is going too fast on a
rough surface or road? Forklifts have NO suspension. The driver
experiences every bone-jarring movement of the vehicle. A seat belt can
and will help the driver maintain position in the seat and thereby
assists in maintaining control of the vehicle.
Having seen all of this firsthand as a forklift driver for several
years, as a trainer of forklift drivers, as a safety professional and as
someone who has had to assist in the rescue of co-workers trapped
beneath a forklift - I believe the use of seat belts (as well as all the
other training) should be mandated, period! And definitely, the idea of
"escape" from a forklift incident should trained out of all drivers.
Instead, avoidance of incidents and how to "ride out" rollovers and such
should be become second nature.
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