A) Forklifts Accidents

Westport forklift operator crushed to death by container

Source : The Star, Sunday June 2 2013.
BY SHAUN HO


Causes Of Forklifts Accidents
a) Incompetent driving, and handling of the
forklifts
b) Ignorance of the safety procedures
c) Improperly maintained forklifts
d) Large amount of interaction with pedestrian
workers.
e) Design of forklifts that cause poor posture
which leads to driver s fatigue and spinal and
abdominal trauma.

Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
a) Ensure adequate training and re-training
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act
1994, all personnel involved in the use of material
handling equipment should be trained. (Section 15
(2c), Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994). It
is the responsibility of employer to ensure forklifts
not only handled by trained and qualified
personnel (Factory and Machinery Act 1967) .

Retraining, when met with accidents

b)Develop, implement and review safety procedures in regards to :
i) Safety Procedures Before Operating A Forklift
Locate and ensure you are familiar with all machine operations and
controls.
Check brakes, lights and horn before use.
Ensure reversing beeper and warning lights are operational.
Ensure seat belt/safety restraint is in good condition.
Know the capacity of the forklift before using it. Do not use a forklift
without a load rating plate.
Check gas-powered vehicles for gas leaks in fuel lines.
Ensure the lifting forks are in sound condition and centred either
side of the mast.
Check tyre pressures. Never drive with a flat or under-inflated tyre.

Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
ii) Safety Procedures While Operating A Forklift
Watch out for pedestrians.
Ensure the lifting tines are secure into the pallet and the load is stable
before lifting or driving off.
Be careful of ceiling clearance or overhead obstructions when raising
the mast.
Always remember that the safe working load of a forklift reduces as
the mast is tilted forward.
Always put the heavy end of the load against the load backrest.
When approaching a blind corner, use horn and drive slowly.
Always have someone guide you if a load restricts your vision.
Slow down when changing direction or on wet or greasy surfaces.
Avoid harsh braking, especially when carrying a load.


Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
iii) End Operation and Cleaning up :
When stopping the forklift:
Park on even ground and lower the forks to the
ground.
Shift the gear selector to park position and apply the
parking brake.
Turn off the ignition and remove the keys.
For gas-powered vehicles, turn off gas and dont
park near an ignition source, doorway or pit.

Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
iv) Refueling
For gas-powered vehicles, change gas bottles
in a well-ventilated area clear of a naked flame
or source of ignition.
For battery-operated vehicles, charge in well-
ventilated area.

Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
v) The DONTS
Do not use faulty equipment. Report any faults immediately.
Do not use engine-powered forklifts in poorly ventilated areas.
Do not allow anyone to ride on the forks.
Do not lift a load with the mast tilted forward.
Do not travel with forks raised or reach mechanism extended.
Never travel with the load elevated.
Do not attempt to turn on an incline or sloping surface.
Do not dismount from a forklift while the engine is running unless the
vehicle has completely stopped, transmission is in park position, and the
parking brake is effectively engaged.
Do not leave forks elevated when forklift is unattended.
Do not refuel an engine-powered forklift unless the motor is stopped and
ignition turned off.


Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
c) Establish Forklift Inspection and Maintenance
It is mandatory to have a maintenance process to
ensure forklifts are safe to be handled (Section 15
(2d), Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994)

US OSHA, examination made at least daily
Industrial trucks use around the clock, shall be
examined after each shift
Defects detected, need to be reported immediately
and shall not be placed in service
Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
d) Management of Pedestrian Workers

Separate forklift traffic and other workers wherever possible.
Limit some aisles to workers on foot only or forklifts only.
Restrict the use of forklifts near time clocks, break rooms, cafeterias,
and main exits, particularly when the flow of workers on foot is at a
peak (such as at the end of a shift or during breaks).
Install physical barriers where practical to ensure that workstations
are isolated from aisles travelled by forklifts.
Evaluate intersections and other blind corners to determine whether
overhead dome mirrors could improve the visibility of forklift
operators or workers on foot.
Make every effort to alert workers when a forklift is nearby. Use
horns, audible backup alarms, and flashing lights to warn workers and
other forklift operators in the area. Flashing lights are especially
important in areas where the ambient noise level is high.

Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
e) Purchase of Forklifts Design that Improve
Stability and with Safety Features
-use forklifts that are compatible with
warehouse size and landscape to ensure no
incidents of tipping over
-safety features forklifts are highly preferred
with controlled speed, mirrors and tilt control
Prevention of Forklifts Accidents
B) Accidents with Hazardous Materials

Accidents with Hazardous Materials
By storing hazardous materials in a warehouse, it is the
duty and responsibility of the warehouse owner
(employer) to control chemicals hazardous to health at
workplaces during storage. (Regulation 15 of the
Occupational Safety & Health -Use and Standard of
Exposure of Chemical Hazardous to Health (USECHH)
Regulation 2000)
Besides that, it is also the duty of employers to identify
and notify of an industrial activity. (Regulation 7 of the
Occupational Safety and Health-Control of Industrial
Major Accident Hazards)

A hazardous material is one that is capable of
producing harmful physical effects such as a
fire, explosion, sudden release of pressure,
reactivity (fire, explosion, or release of
dangerous gases that can result from contact
between particular chemicals and certain
other chemicals or air or water) or producing
injury by inhalation, skin or eye contact, or by
ingestion..

Accidents with Hazardous Materials
They are:
a) Lack of awareness of the properties of the hazardous
chemicals
b) Operator error (due to lack of training)
c) Inappropriate storage conditions with respects to the
hazards of the chemicals
d) Inadequate design, installation or maintenance of
buildings and equipment
e) Exposure to heat from a nearby fire
f) Poor control over sources of ignition including
smoking and smoking materials
g) Vandalism and arson

Common Causes Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
a)Develop a plan for hazard identification and
communication.

Hazardous chemical supplier must provide :
- Chemical Safety Data Sheet (CSDS) -information needed for safe
handling of hazardous materials.
- An acceptable CSDS should describe the chemicals identity,
relevant health hazard information, precautions for use, safe
handling information and other relevant information related to
chemicals
- The CSDS should contain appropriate information in accordance
with one of the regulations either Occupational Safety and Health
(Classification, Packaging and Labeling of Hazardous Chemicals)
Regulations 1997 or The Pesticides Act 1974 or the Environmental
Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005
b) Implementation Of Warehouse Operation
Training and Execution of Working Procedures
-all need to be trained
-supervised by a trained and experienced supervisor
-area and line responsibility of reporting must be
clearly defined and understood
-Working procedure should use the first-in-first-out
principle as a basis in order to reduce risk of
deterioration of chemicals, packages, labels or other
markings.
Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
The following instructions must be readily
available for all warehouse personnel:

-Instructions for the safe and correct operations of any
equipment and storage of material
-CSDS sheet for all stored and transported chemicals
-Hygiene and safety instructions and procedures
-Emergency instructions and procedures

Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
the use of personal protective equipment should be made
available for use as appropriate (for routine work):
Protective helmet/cloth cap
Eye protection (safety spectacles, goggles or face shield)
Appropriate Respiration protection
One piece work-suit with closely fitting trouser bottoms
Rubber or plastic gloves/gauntlets
Rubber or plastic aprons
Work-boots with protective toe-caps
The protective equipments should be approved by Director
General of Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
Ensure standards adoption at a particular site
are based on understanding of the physical and
chemical properties of the chemicals concerned.
10 hazard categories which comprises of 5
hazard categories based on physiochemical
properties ( explosive, oxidising, extremely
flammable, highly flammable and flammable) and
5 hazard categories based on health effect ( very
toxic, toxic, corrosive, harmful and irritant)

Hazards of any particular chemical should
have been re-classified into hazard categories
in accordance with The Occupational Safety &
Health ( Classification, Packaging and Labelling
of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 1997
after the chemicals arrive on site with its
carriage labelling
Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
Implement safe siting and design of storage area
-Planning legislation also plays a role in the siting and zoning of
new industry building.
-Chemicals storage areas should be located away from densely
populated areas from drinking water sources, from areas liable
to flooding and from flooding and external sources of hazards.
-Easy access for transport and emergency services on the
ground
-Adequate services need to be ensured like electricity with
emergency supply if needed, potable water, fire-fighting water,
drainage preventing ground run-off to either public/storm
sewer or a waste treatment plant as part of a site containment
plan.


Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
Site layout designed to allow possible separation of
incompatible materials by use of separate buildings,
fire walls or other acceptable precautions to permit
safe movement and transport of materials where it
would have sufficient space to reasonable working
conditions and allow clear access from 2 sides.

Storage buildings for hazardous chemicals are subject
to controls under building legislation. The Regulations
would specify standards for fire resistance,
compartment size and also means of escape and
assistance to the fire brigade. (Uniform Building by
Laws 1984)
Warehouses should be substantially closed in and
capable of being locked. The construction materials
should be non-flammable and the frame of the
building should be reinforced concrete or steel
protected from heart by insulation.

Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
e)Ensure security
- Secure fencing, gates and other security measure
- Boundaries :secure boundary wall or fence, be maintain at a
good state. Fence line should be located to provide room for
spill osilation and the activation of spill mitigation procedures
-During silent hours, a night watchman and other security
aids like perimeter lighting should be considered.
-Site Access : For managing emergencies, it is important to
have more than 1 access gates, to allow passage of
emergency vehicles from different directions

Prevention Of Accidents with
Hazardous Materials
C) Slips and Trips
Slip and trip accidents are a serious problem in warehousing and
storage and can happen anywhere

Causes Of Slips:

a)The floor is wet or contaminated.
water, oil, cleaning products, dry powders and foodstuffs.
Other items, like stretch wrapping, label backing and plastic
bags,
Slips Prevention
a)Floors Conditions
-Need to be rough and dry. As the rougher the floor,
the better it will cope with water and other
contamination and the less likely of slipping.
b) Implementation of Right Footwear In
Warehouse
-right footwear can reduce occurrence of slips
Trips
Most common cause of trips :
a) Uneven surface area
b) The existence of trip hazards items like
goods, waste packaging, banded strapping
loops and pallets.

Trips Prevention
a) Floor Surfaces Condition
Check that floor surfaces are even both inside and
outside buildings and fill in if found any holes.
b) No Obstructions on Traffic Routes
c) Ensure good lighting
d) Regular Housekeeping and Proactive Inspection
-to ensure if items fall onto traffic routes, it is clear as
soon as possible.
-workplace safety inspections need to be conducted by a
person who can identify hazards and conditions that are
dangerous to workers