Forklift Tip-Over Prevention
Your forklift is a crucial part of your daily operation. But operating any type of heavy machinery can be dangerous. At KMC Forklift, we want you to stay safe on the job. That’s why we’ve created the following guide to help you prevent your forklift from tipping over. Read on to learn more, and give us a call at our Bryan, Texas location if you have any questions or you want to buy some new equipment. We also proudly serve Caldwell, College Station, and Hearne!
What Causes Forklifts to Tip Over?
In order to prevent a tip-over, you need to know what causes this safety risk. When the center of gravity is on the side of the stability triangle, the equipment can lose proper balance and fall over. This often occurs when turning a corner, carrying an unbalanced load, driving into a pothole, or driving on a slope.
Other reasons forklifts tip over include when the operator exceeds the load capacity of the machine, excessive speeds are used, the lift gets too close to an edge on the floor, or the driver travels with the load too high.
Prevention Strategies
Now that you know what causes this dangerous situation, it’s time to learn how to prevent it. The first step to prevent a forklift tip-over is to complete a forklift certification. You need to be trained and experienced to safely operate any heavy-duty machine. Even after being certified, there are still some steps you can take to stay safe.
Some tips you should follow to avoid a tip-over include:
- Never exceeding the load capacity
- Never turning while on a ramp
- Slowing down when taking a turn
- Keeping the forks no higher than four to six inches above the ground
- Never braking suddenly with a raised load
- Using caution when moving oddly shaped loads
A little prevention can go a long way in keeping you and those around you safe!
What to do If Your Forklift Tips Over
You can do your best to stay safe, but sometimes accidents happen. It’s important to know what to do if your equipment does fall over.
It’s important that the operator tries not to panic if the machine tips over. Insead, the operator should:
- Lean away from the fall
- Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel
- Brace their feet
- Never jump from the machine
Accidents and injuries can occur, but you can minimize the damage. Don’t forget to always wear your seatbelt!
We hope these tips help you stay safe and avoid a forklift tip-over! If you have any questions, reach out to our team at KMC Forklift. We are located in Bryan, Texas, and we proudly serve Caldwell, College Station, and Hearne too. Our team can’t wait to help you find the right equipment for your job site!