7 Little Accessories That Make a Big Difference in Forklift Safety

by Trey Barber, on June 12, 2023 at 6:07 AM

Sometimes a little change makes a big difference. For example, since entering everyday use in the 1930s, turn signals have been credited with more than a 33% reduction in automotive crashes in the US. Similarly, simple safety accessories can reduce the thousands of forklift accidents each year.

To help make your warehouse an accident-free space, we've compiled a list of small additions that make a huge difference. Read on to learn 7 accessories that can improve forklift safety in your facility.

1. Non-Cinching Seat Belts

Seat belts are more than just a good idea. They're required by OSHA. Every forklift operator must wear a seat belt or other restraint while driving a forklift. Failure to do so can result in a hefty citation for the employer.

Despite this, many operators don’t buckle up. The most common reason is comfort. Cinching belts can be binding and uncomfortable when the forklift goes over bumpy terrain or makes frequent stops. You can improve operator compliance by upgrading your existing seat belts to non-cinching belts. And you can verify compliance by choosing high-visibility orange or green webbing, making the belts easier to see when you walk the facility. These are one of the simplest safety modifications to implement.

2. LED Work Lights

By their very nature, warehouses are home to towering shelves and pallet racks. These can block overhead lighting, creating pools of shadow that easily obscure hazards. Re-doing your overhead lighting can be expensive, but investing in LED work lights is not.

LED work lights improve operator visibility while navigating low-light working aisles. This ensures your operator sees a hazard before it becomes an accident. Likewise, work lights help pedestrians avoid accidents by helping working forklifts stand out.

3. Blue LED Safety Lights

Storage density requirements can lead to an accumulation of blind turns in an active warehouse. These create a particular hazard to pedestrians who may not notice a forklift before they walk directly into its path.

Blue LED safety lights help prevent those hair-raising moments by projecting a blue spot on the floor well ahead of the forklift. This simple forklift proximity warning system is visible to pedestrians before they round a blind turn, allowing them to avoid a potentially fatal forklift collision.

4. Amber LED Strobes

Amber LED strobes are another way to mark a working forklift. The ambient light in a warehouse doesn't strobe. So the flashing light catches attention quickly. This helps keep forklifts visible to others working in the warehouse without worrying about safety lights going unnoticed in a well-lit space.

If you want to take pedestrian safety to the next level, consider investing in a pedestrian alert system. These actively alert the driver to the presence of other workers in the forklift's path.

5. ABC Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

Fire is a genuine threat in any facility that uses heavy machinery. But fire can be especially dangerous and difficult to control in warehouses because not every extinguisher is rated for every material.

Fire extinguishers come in 3 classifications: A, B, and C.

Class A is rated for putting out trash, wood, and paper.
Class B is for liquids and gases.
Class C is for energized electrical equipment.

The diversity of stored material and industrial equipment means a fire that starts with energized electrics, like a forklift motor, could quickly jump to wood, paper, or even propane. The safest bet is to install ABC-rated fire extinguishers on all your forklifts. That way, a small fire can be stopped before it becomes a catastrophe.

6. Dome Mirrors

Forklift safety lighting focuses on helping pedestrians notice a forklift, but mirrors help the driver detect the pedestrians. Since the driver is the only one who can stop the forklift's motion, operator awareness is just as crucial as pedestrian awareness. Dome mirrors offer 180 degrees of visibility, making it easy for the driver to check blind spots and prevent accidents before they happen.

7. Anti-Slip Tape

Anti-slip tape might be the simplest forklift safety accessory of them all. Slips and falls are among the most common injuries reported in the workplace. The step in and out of material handling vehicles, like forklifts, is a common injury site. Most forklifts come with anti-slip steps, but these wear out, tear, and peel away over time. A roll of anti-slip tape is a cheap way to reduce injuries and workers' compensation claims. Look for a roll that is anti-slip when wet, durable, and solvent resistant.

Elevate Your Forklift Safety

Every facility is unique. Yours might benefit from some or all of these accessories. Or there might be other accessories that better suit your fleet. That's one of the reasons we offer free site assessments. Our expert staff come to your facility and recommend the small adjustments that will make the biggest difference. To schedule your free site assessment, contact us online or at one of our Washington State locations.