Must-Know Tips for Using Forklift Booms Safely
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Summary: Forklift booms help move heavy loads further and higher, but they must be used properly. Only trained operators should handle them. Check the boom and forklift before use, and always work on firm, level ground to avoid tip-overs and unnecessary risks on site. |
Booms provide forklifts with a better reach, but you must create a safe work environment for booms and your forklift operators. Creating a healthy work environment isn’t complex, and you can take steps today to ensure your company maintains a responsible and professional atmosphere. Use these must-know tips for using forklift booms safely to prevent dangerous accidents from occurring during routine work.
Only Allow Trained Personnel Onboard
Forklift certification is nothing to overlook because a forklift is dangerous in the wrong hands. In the right hands, a forklift is a powerful tool for transporting heavy materials, such as granite, around the workplace. When you buy forklift booms, you will extend their reach, but utilizing that reach responsibly requires someone with training and certification to use forklifts.
Moreover, when operating a forklift boom, the operator should be properly trained and certified in using that boom. Having trained personnel at the helm of your booms conducting careful and concise operations is one of the most important ways to create a healthy workplace.
Promote Thorough Inspections Before Use
Anyone with experience operating a forklift understands the importance of safety checks prior to use. These inspections help the operator spot maintenance issues, damaged components, and other problems that require immediate attention.
This same principle applies to attachments on the forklift boom extension; operators must ensure the boom is properly secured to the forklift before using it for routine work. These steps ensure the operators work efficiently and don’t create an unsafe environment.
Keep Booms on Stable, Level Ground
Besides inspecting the equipment, one of the best tips for using smart forklift booms safely is to inspect the ground they will reside on. Level ground is critical for a boom lift operator because it provides a stable place to elevate the platform and conduct work.
Unstable ground, such as an incline, will make it easier for the lift to tip over as the platform rises higher in the air. When it comes to forklifts, safety and stability go hand in hand, so implement these tips in your company to ensure both factors are present daily.
FAQ's
Only the licensed operators of the forklift who are aware of how the boom operates and the weight it can bear will be allowed to do that.
Definitely. It is a very short check that will help the operator to discover all the fittings that are out of place, damaged parts, or wear and tear before the lifting starts.
Forklifts become unsteady and lose their stability when used on slopes. Thus, uneven ground raises the risk of tipping over.
Definitely not. The extra elevation adds to the challenge of controlling the forklift, and only a trained person will be able to do it safely.
Lack of proper training, inspections not being done, and working on unstable ground are the main reasons.
Robert Tait
Robert Tait is a senior sales and operations leader with over 30 years of experience in manufacturing and distribution. Based in Overland Park, Kansas, he is the President of Tait Sales & Consulting LLC (TSC), a family-owned and operated venture he founded in 2019. TSC was founded to provide diamond tooling, material handling, and all related consumables to the natural stone industry. The industries have now expanded to include, construction, glass, tile, masonry, hardscape and concrete industries.