Forklift Safety Tip - "operators Must Look Over Their Shoulder Before Reversing"

By far the most common bad habit that all forkliftOperators must turn their head and look.
drivers develop is reversing without looking at what, orThe correct procedure is to look over both
who is behind them. It sounds strange because youshoulders (and in any other blind spots) before
would never reverse your car without checking behindmoving, then to turn around and look over one shoulder
you, but for some reason forklift drivers just don't lookwhile traveling backwards, glancing around often
behind.enough to inspect the load and surroundings. If a driver
When first obtaining their license, operators are madeis unloading a truck and needs to reverse 50 times, he
to check behind over both shoulders before moving.or she needs to check over their shoulders 50 times.
Once licensed however, this practice is very quicklyPlease Note: Drivers with the physical inability to look
discarded. Do me a favour: The next time you're out inclearly over both shoulders whilst reversing are unsafe
the warehouse or yard, take a quick look at yourto drive a forklift. Operators must have enough range
forklifts and I'll bet you'll notice something that backs upof motion to be able to turn their head and shoulders
my point.far enough to see behind the forklift.
The paint on the sides of your machine will usually be 
near perfect, yet the back is just bare metal. This isMirrors Aren't To Be Used For Reversing!
because drivers don't think to check behindForklift revision mirrors are only there to see if cars,
themselves before reversing.If they're running intotrucks or faster forklifts and equipment are trying to
stationary objects then they could just as easily hit aovertake them in traffic type situations. They're not to
person.be used for reversing.