Forklift safety checklist

What it contains

Forklifts are a major cause of workplace injuries and fatalities. Hazards that can lead to injuries include:

• pedestrians, including transport drivers being struck or crushed by the forklift
• forklift operators being crushed by the forklift due to the forklift tipping over and the operator not wearing a seatbelt
• forklift operators and others being crushed by the load being dropped or falling off the forks, due to improper loading
• people falling from a height when standing on pallets or containers and man-cages on the raised forks.

This checklist may be used in consultation with employees, forklift operators and health and safety representatives to help manage forklift hazards and risks in the workplace.

Topics include:

• Workplace design
• Selection of forklifts
• Operator skills
• Condition of the forklift
• Systems of work — how the work is done