Maintaining safety standards is essential to protect employees and assets while preventing costly accidents and operational disruptions. One of the most effective strategies to ensure ongoing safety is through regular site evaluations. These assessments are crucial in identifying specific issues or challenges, raising awareness of potential pitfalls, and providing recommendations to address them in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. This month we interviewed our Senior Applications & Integration Specialist, Bruce Smith, to see what he had to say about common safety hazards at client’s facilities, why regular site evaluations are so important, and solutions.

Break Free from Routine

“Routine breeds complacency, with the assumption that past practices will continue to suffice. Regular site evaluations are vital in challenging this mindset. They allow for thorough assessments of the facility, uncovering potential hazards such as outdated processes, changing configurations, and site-specific challenges like racking arrangements. For instance, a change in a plant’s configuration might necessitate modifying the lift truck route. Site evaluations identify these changes, enabling proactive adjustments to prevent accidents and inefficiencies,” states Bruce Smith, our Senior Applications & Integration Specialist.

Mitigate Common Safety Hazards

Creating a safe work environment involves identifying common safety hazards and implementing practical solutions. Site evaluations are instrumental in pinpointing these hazards and enabling effective mitigation strategies. Here are some common safety hazards and their solutions:

1. Operators Traveling in the Wrong Direction: Operator visibility is crucial. Sit-down forklifts can limit visibility in certain scenarios. Switching to stand counterbalance forklifts improves mobility and visibility, reducing the risk of wrong-direction travel.
2. Changing Attachments: Frequent attachment changes can lead to pinch points, back issues, product damage, or operator injuries. Choosing the appropriate attachment for specific tasks, such as using fork clamps instead of fork positioners, ensures better load stability and safety.
3. Matching Tires to Floor Conditions: The condition of the floor significantly impacts safety. Selecting tires that suit the floor conditions can enhance operator comfort and load protection. Appropriate tires prevent back strain and avoid loads bouncing off during transport.
4. Warehouse Rack Environment: Operators can accidentally collide with racks, leading to truck, rack, or product damage. Site evaluations help determine the safest approach for guiding operators within the racking system based on aisle layouts and product flow. Ensuring the right racking system, rated based on beam thickness to support stored product weight, is also crucial.

Examples of Effective Site Evaluations

Site evaluations have repeatedly demonstrated their effectiveness in implementing significant safety and efficiency improvements. “I’ve observed these real-life examples within our client’s facilities while conducting site evaluations,” stated Smith. “Each location faced different challenges, but after review, we were able to provide solutions to help mitigate their risks.”

Client A: A site evaluation revealed that their tall, unstable loads were frequently toppling. Fork clamps were recommended to stabilize the loads, preventing incidents and maintaining load integrity, especially in humid environments where box structures are compromised.

Client B: It was discovered that Client B was using a 2-wheel dolly to handle products over 250 pounds, which was insecure and unsafe. Switching to a fork clamp improved stability and handling efficiency.

Client C: An assessment showed that Client C’s forklifts were being misused to load paper into a conveyor, causing significant mast attachment damage. Switching to a skid-steer loader, designed for pushing tasks, prevented further damage and increased efficiency.

Implementing Safety Recommendations After a Site Evaluation

Implementing safety recommendations from site evaluations is crucial for a safer work environment. Here are some tips for effective implementation:

• Utilize the comprehensive report provided during the evaluation, which highlights current conditions and offers tailored solutions.
• Take prompt action to prioritize and implement recommended safety measures, avoiding unnecessary risks.
• Develop an effective safety program that reduces operator damage, prevents accidents, and limits workers’ compensation claims. This program should ensure consistent adherence to safety protocols and may involve task modifications to prevent manual injuries.
• Pay attention to equipment data tags, ensuring modifications or attachments are listed and match the truck specifications to avoid compromising safety.

Regular site evaluations play a vital role in maintaining safety standards and preventing accidents in fleet operations. By addressing specific issues, adapting to process changes, and implementing practical solutions, fleet managers can enhance safety, and improve efficiency to protect their most valuable assets – their workforce. When you partner with Fleet Team, you’re taking the next step towards a more safe, optimized fleet. Contact us today to schedule a site evaluation for your facility.

“Safety is about personal accountability, don’t leave it up to someone else.”

Bruce Smith, Senior Applications & Integration Specialist