Forklift Work Platforms for Safely Performing Overhead Tasks


Without Forklift Work Platforms, performing overhead tasks in warehouses is dangerous business. A cursory glance at a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) fact sheet is enough to make a warehouse manager wonder, "What can I do to protect my workers?"

That's where heavy-duty safety equipment like Forklift Work Platforms come in. These dedicated personnel-lifting devices can make overhead tasks, like taking inventory, shifting products on high warehouse shelves, or even changing light bulbs safer and quicker than ever before.

A macro- and micro-level look at the situation shows the danger that workers encounter when confronted with overhead tasks.

Let's take a look at the big picture first. The BLS reports that slips, trips, and falls are the second-most common cause of fatal injuries in the workplace. In 2015, there were 800 deaths, which averages to more than two fatal falls every day.

Surprisingly, many of the falls were from relatively short heights. For instance, 10 percent of fatal falls were from heights of less than six feet, and almost a quarter were from less than 10 feet.

Understanding that even short falls can be deadly has lead the government to focus their resources on the problem.

Forklift-Work-Platforms-for-Safely-Performing-Overhead-Tasks

Lack of fall protection is now the most commonly cited OSHA standards violation. The safety administration wants businesses to pay if they jeopardize their workers' health. The group has also started a Fall Prevention Campaign which seeks to educate businesses and workers on the dangers of falling.

Another educational tool that OSHA offers is its Fatal Facts publication, which lists detailed accounts of workplace deaths to educate managers about the real consequences of unsafe workplaces. A recent issue focused on the tragic story of a bulk warehouse worker.

The 33-year-old man died after falling just seven feet. He had been moving inventory while balanced on a pallet raised by a forklift when he slipped and fell. Sadly, OSHA discovered that this was a routine procedure in the warehouse. A proper lifting platform would have protected the man while improving the operation's productivity.

Forklift Work Platforms protect elevated workers and those who are underneath them.

The BHS Forklift Work Platform has ample safety features to prevent dangerous accidents. Guardrails and safety harness points ensure that a worker won't fall, and an anti-skid surface keeps workers from slipping.

Forklift Work Platforms also protect pedestrians who are passing underneath them. The 4-inch toe-guard prevents tools from accidentally slipping off the platform. That's good for the tools, but it's also good for anyone who might be seriously injured by a falling hammer or screwdriver.

Warehouses that invest in safe, efficient equipment like Forklift Work Platforms will see overhead tasks completed faster, as workers worry less about balancing on a pallet and more about completing their jobs. But more importantly, managers will know that their workers are safe from the grave consequences of falling while working. The improved productivity and elimination of falling as a major risk that comes with Forklift Work Platforms will give any thoughtful manager peace of mind.

References:

"Commonly Used Statistics." OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2017.

"Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2015." BLS. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016. PDF. 9 Nov. 2017.

"OSHA FatalFacts - Warehouse Fall from Pallet Elevated by Forklift." OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 2017. PDF. 9 Nov. 2017.

"Welcome to OSHA's Fall Prevention Campaign." OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2017.