Workplace Conditions

Indoor and outdoor environmental conditions can change when you are operating a forklift. For example, if you are outdoors it may start to rain. You must always be aware of changing indoor and outdoor working conditions, including in the following circumstances:

• Operating on compromised surfaces (rain, slippery materials, gravel)
• Working in areas with poor light or an abundance of shadows
• Working in places where unexpected materials may be present
• Crossing uneven surfaces, such as railroad tracks
• Crossing potentially unstable surfaces, such as ramps or work floors with openings and pits
• Operating in an area without good ventilation, especially when operating a combustible fuel-operated forklift that emits carbon monoxide
• Operating near combustible or flammable materials

Note that employers are responsible for providing extra lighting on the forklift or PIT when general lighting is less than 2 lumens per square foot.

To learn more about Forklift Safety visit our Forklift Safety Online Training web page.