If you’ve ever stopped at a traffic light, and shuddered at the texting, teenage driver in the next lane, you probably thought this is an irresponsible person who shouldn’t be behind the wheel. Given statistics that texters are about as impaired as drunk drivers, it’s a real issue. The question is, do you tolerate that kind of distractions for forklift drivers in your warehouse?

We already understand the potential for devastation when forklifts collide with people, machinery, or storage equipment like racks. The forklift is probably the most dangerous piece of equipment in any given industrial operation. A forklift driver who’s texting, taking cell calls, eating, smoking, plugged into an MP3 player, or drinking a soda multiplies the risks associated with that lift truck. Simply telling drivers that the only thing they’re allowed to do is drive is a good start, but you should also check their hours in service. Sure, it’s easy to get buckled in on a busy day, but it’s significantly less safe the more hours a driver logs. If your shifts go into overtime, a tired or drowsy driver can be just as dangerous as one who’s texting.

The bottom line: don’t allow drivers to do anything but drive. Discourage conversations with pedestrians, encourage frequent breaks, and disallow phones, food, and music players.

While certified, trained drivers are always your best safety system, you should also consider protective forklift barriers , visibility mirrors to help increase driver and pedestrian vision, and forklift dock safety gates to prevent spills and drive-offs.

Tags: forklift safety, Pallet Rack, warehousing

Scott Stone is Cisco-Eagle's Advertising and E-business Manager. He is a 20-year veteran of the material handling industry. He publishes the award-winning Material Handling Tips & Information Newsletter and works on all aspects of the company's communications efforts. See Cisco-Eagle on Twitter