Other Workers' Safety - Unattended Controls

Lift truck operators are not the only workers whose safety needs to be considered. It is important to remember that use of heavy machinery presents a risk to everyone at the work site. When a lift truck is not being used, the OHSA requires the machine to be parked on level ground (as far as reasonably practicable), the engine turned off, and the parking brake set. It is also a good idea to use chocks or other methods to prevent the wheels from turning in the event of a brake failure, especially when the machine cannot be parked on a flat surface. When the machine is parked (or any time it is not carrying a load), forks or other lift devices should be lowered.

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