Video saved the forklift star

The pros and the cons of the forklift video age

There is an abundance of forklift videos online – accidents, safety tutorials, and day-to-day truck operation. What is worrying, however, is the increasing number of videos where fork trucks are being driven badly or simply abused. Here we discuss the pros and cons of the online video age.

Inter-nuts!

With around 95% of phones now possessing video capabilities, it is easier than ever for people to film their everyday lives and share it with the world. Unfortunately, with such a quick route to internet notoriety, some individuals go to great lengths to shock and entertain. And the materials handling industry is no different as this video from our growing collection of forklift accident videos shows.

Not just 15 minutes of fame

Eight workers were fired from their jobs as a result of this video, which was taken down by the company involved. Of course, with videos being constantly replicated and shared, these workers' dangerous behaviour is preserved forever online – potentially impairing their job prospects for life. More importantly, however, it forever tarnishes their employers’ reputations.

That’s Edutainment

Of course, forklift videos needn’t be all bad. They can, for example, be a starting point for a wider discussion of forklift safety among your workforce.

Let’s look at a real life example... This shocking CCTV footage captures the moment a pedestrian is dragged under a forklift truck.

The worker, who escaped with multiple broken bones, demonstrates the harsh reality of what happens when companies do not designate pedestrian walkways – and the importance of mirrors to improve visibility when this isn’t possible. Could this happen at your workplace? What could you do to prevent such an accident?

Further safety

Of course, forklift videos are just one of many tools you can use to improve safety on your site – many of which cost very little.

For example, following best practice (reporting near misses, setting up codes of conduct, etc.) will cost you little more than your time.

Risk to workers can also be reduced by effective site planning, such as painting designated walkways on the floor.

There are various safety aids which can be fitted to new or existing trucks, such as alarms and beacons which will alert pedestrians to nearby truck operations.

For those looking for safety from the ground up, choose a lift truck with inbuilt safety features. LPG models of the Grendia ES, for example, are fitted with a speed limiter as standard (and as an option on diesel models), in addition to the Integrated Presence System, which prevents all truck and mast movement if the operator is absent – significantly reducing risk in the workplace.