In this edition, we'll be covering the following topics:
- Is the Right-of-Way Wrong?
- Revised ANSI B56.1 Standard Released.
- Company fined NZD $272,000 (USD $179,000) after driver's leg crushed in workplace forklift accident.
- Ask Bob: Our tech guru addresses a question on fall protection requirements for an order picker.
- MSHA issues results of investigation into fatal front end loader accident.
- 10 Tips for Safely Operating Telehandlers on the Jobsite.
- Last chance to register!
- What's Wrong With This? Photo and answer.
- A selection of interesting articles.
- New testimonials from our wonderful clients.
But first, check out all the places we are delivering training this month...
Is the Right-of-Way Wrong?
Trainers are often tasked with keeping a training session interesting by encouraging group discussion. A common method to do this is to bring up 'hot-button' topics that people feel strongly toward and react accordingly.
One of my favorite hot buttons is the right-of-way issue: it can be an entertaining and occasionally frightening topic to broach. Metaphorically - it's like pulling the pin of a grenade and tossing it into the center of the room; reactions are guaranteed and virtually instant!
Most people relate to both sides of the issue here because most of us have been a vehicle (like a car) operator and a pedestrian. When we drive our cars, or forklifts as the case may be, we cannot understand how those darn pedestrians can be so careless as to not understand the issues we are dealing with as operators and of course when we are pedestrians, we cannot fathom the incompetence of an operator who is not mindful of us.
At most industrial operations I have been to, the people there come down on the equipment "side" of things. They award the right-of way to the equipment using the rationale that operators have visibility, load handling and braking issues to deal with, and the last thing they need to be worried about is where a pedestrian will appear or what they may do. However on the legal/liability side of things, the law typically comes down on the pedestrian's side of things often citing the premise that life should always have the right-of-way over machinery.
Personally, I don't like the idea of either operators or pedestrians believing that they have the absolute right-of-way so I try to instill a more cooperative frame of mind in both. Many operators who believe they have the right of way tend to operate with a certain devil-may-care attitude which may not necessarily be careless, but is dangerous. Likewise, pedestrians with the belief that they have the right-of-way often behave around mobile equipment carelessly, oblivious to their surroundings and always unpredictable.
To operators I say that it is they who are required to be in control of the equipment at all times and operate in such a way that offers maximum visibility (load trailing wherever possible) with the ability to stop under all conditions, including pedestrian-heavy areas. If push comes to shove, even though company policy may favor operators, the law usually doesn't and if they hit someone, the law will be there, usually in the form of lawyers.
To pedestrians I say that although the law is usually on their side in many cases, if a collision occurs your family may win a lawsuit and be able to afford to plant you in a nice oak box instead of the standard pine one - congratulations. Sometimes I have found it useful to sit a pedestrian behind the wheel of a loaded forklift in hopes of giving them some glimpse of an operator's perspective. It's usually quite effective.
The fact of the matter is that we all need to look out for each other and try to respect what the other is dealing with. Toward that end, pedestrians and operators alike may benefit from adopting a 'neither has the right of way' philosophy or better still, safety has the right of way.
Of course, communication between operators and pedestrians is vital. When the two meet both should stop, make eye contact and acknowledge one another, then offer some sort of signal (a wave, nod, horn, gesture, etc), preferably the operator waving the pedestrian through in most cases. Hi-visibility clothing, clearly marked walkways, signage, mirrors all have their place and contribute to managing risk.
Finally, winning the hearts and minds of the people involved in such a way that attitude and behavior are favorably influenced is paramount because policy and procedure can do nothing without people to make them work.
Rob Vetter
Director of Training
IVES Training Group
Revised ANSI B56.1 Standard Released.
On August 15, 2018, ANSI/ITSDF B56.1a-2018 was released as an addendum to the 2016 edition of the standard. The revisions made in this latest version of the standard are concerned with updating fall protection specifications in accordance with OSHA fall protection requirements that became effective late in 2017.
Specifically, reference to the fall protection standard, ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2007 Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components has been replaced with individual references to ANSI/ASSE Z359.11-2014 Safety Requirements for Full Body Harnesses, ANSI/ASSE Z359.13-2013 Personal Energy Absorbers and Energy Absorbing Lanyards and ANSI/ASSE Z359.14-2014 Safety Requirements for Self-Retracting Devises for Personal Fall Arrest and Rescue Systems respectively.
A requirement to consider the operator’s weight and reduce the truck’s capacity by any amount in excess of 220 lbs. or 100 kg. was also added. This revision along with some revised maximum allowable arresting forces is reflected in Tables 1(a) and 1(b) in section 4.17.2. Any mention of body belts has also been removed from the standard.
These addenda will only affect those trainers that deliver operator training on operator-up models like order pickers where personal fall protection systems are used. Further, since these addenda represent updates that have been in place within the fall protection world for years already, their effects will likely be minimal with respect to forklift operator training as a whole.
You can download ANSI/ITSDF B56.1a-2018 for free at itsdf.org
Rob Vetter
Director of Training
IVES Training Group
Company fined NZD $272,000 (USD $179,000) after driver's leg crushed in workplace forklift accident.
Transport company Kuehne + Nagel Limited have been ordered to pay $272,000 after a driver was struck and pinned by a forklift at the company's site in Mangere, Auckland.
The incident, dating back to June 2016, saw the driver suffer seven fractures to his left foot, with a WorkSafe investigation finding that Kuehne + Nagel had not communicated safety protocol.
The company was fined $252,000 and reparations of $20,000 were ordered.
The investigation also found that while the company did have safety systems in place, they were not enforced by management, leaving workers vulnerable and unequipped to deal with accidents.
"The site was busy with more than 100 trucks coming in to deliver and collect goods each day. Kuehne + Nagel had a responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act for those truck drivers and other workers coming onto their site," WorkSafe deputy general manager for Investigations and Specialist Services Simon Humphries said.
"Forklifts are difficult to manoeuvre, they are frequently loaded to the point where visibility is compromised and they can be deadly when pedestrians are involved.
"Traffic management should be a paramount health and safety concern for businesses using them and for those with vehicles moving on, off and around your workplace".
Source: www.tvnz.co.nz
Ask Bob
Q. I know that when operating an order picker there is a requirement that the person being elevated has to be wearing a safety lanyard and a harness.
My question is, does the harness have to be a full body harness or can it be a safety belt attached to a lanyard? I believe that a full body harness is much safer. Any help you can provide would be appreciated.
A. A body belt is required when the situation calls for a fall restraint device. This is a device that will prevent a person from getting close enough to the edge of an elevated area to fall off. It usually consists of a waist belt and a lanyard tied off to an anchor point.
If it is possible for the person to fall off the edge, then a fall arrest device must be worn. This is a full 5-point body harness that will stop the fall in a specified distance, usually 4 to 6 feet.
It is worth noting here that the construction industry has pretty much banned the use of body belts altogether in most cases. Better check with the general contractor when you're working at a construction site.
MSHA issues results of investigation into fatal front end loader accident.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued its Report of Investigation on the 7th fatality of 2018, which occurred on July 31 at Susag Sand & Gravel Inc.’s Mack Pit in Orin, N.D. Troy E. Schimke, a 62-year-old supervisor, was fatally injured when the bucket of a front-end loader struck him while he was positioning a 20-foot-long steel tube on a screen feed conveyor.
The accident occurred because management did not have policies, procedures, and controls in place to ensure the use of tag lines while moving suspended loads and to ensure persons did not work under the raised buckets of loaders.
On the day of the accident, the loader operator raised the bucket of the loader to place the steel tube onto the JCI screen feed conveyor. Schimke positioned himself beneath the bucket and attempted to guide the steel tube into place along the inclined belt. The loader operator lowered the bucket to place the tube on the conveyor, then raised it again. When he raised the bucket, he saw Schimke fall. The loader operator shut off and exited the loader, and climbed up to the platform to check on Schimke. He realized he had struck Schimke with the bucket of the loader and called 911 at 6:54 a.m. Emergency teams arrived at 7:18 a.m. and pronounced Schimke dead at the scene.
MSHA’s accident investigation team conducted a physical examination of the accident, interviewed miners, and reviewed conditions and work procedures relevant to the accident. Mine management, miners, and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation. Investigators reviewed company policies and procedures in relation to the work being performed and determined that the operator had no policies in place at the time of the accident to address working under raised loader buckets or the use of taglines to control suspended loads.
Corrective Action: The company developed policies, procedures, and new training materials to prevent miners from working under raised equipment buckets. The workforce at the mine was retrained using the new policies, procedures, and training materials, with additional emphasis on not working under suspended loads.
Corrective Action: The company developed policies, procedures, and new training materials to use taglines to control suspended loads. The workforce at the mine was retrained using the new policies, procedures, and training materials, with additional emphasis on not working under suspended loads.
Best Practice: Proximity detection technology exists today which can prevent this type of injury. Consideration should be given to the use of this technology whereby an incident between the operator and other employees does not result in a fatality.
Source: www.aggman,com
10 Tips for Safely Operating Telehandlers on the Jobsite.
A telehandler is one of the most frequently used tools, and most versatile pieces of equipment on a jobsite. This machine’s true value is in its multi-purpose capabilities - whether you need to lift, move and/or place materials, it is an ideal choice because it provides all-around utility to answer more than one work site need.
As you figure out how to do more and more on your jobsites with a telehandler, you should follow these simple, safe operating tips to help reduce the risk of incidents and also to keep the machine performing productively day in and day out, from one application to another:
- Be properly trained (both general training and hands-on practical training) on the telehandler you will be using. This includes thoroughly reading the operator’s manual and safety signs on the machine, as well as understanding the function and location of all safety devices and controls before beginning operation.
- Read, understand and obey employer’s safety rules and worksite regulations, as well as all applicable local, governmental or provincial regulations that apply to the telehandler operation before operating the machine.
- Perform a pre-operation inspection and function tests on the telehandler before each work shift. If there is anything apparently wrong with the machine or a malfunction is discovered, make sure it is immediately tagged and removed from service until it can be repaired by a qualified service technician.
- Perform a workplace hazard assessment prior to moving the telehandler to the jobsite. Be aware of and avoid hazards such as drop-offs and holes, slopes, slippery or unstable surfaces, overhead obstacles, power lines and any other hazards that may exist and develop a plan to avoid those hazards through all phases of machine operation.
- Do not operate a telehandler without the proper load capacity chart (i.e. load chart). It is critical that the load chart in the telehandler matches the machine and the attachment you are using before lifting the load. Load charts should always be clearly legible and visible to you while you are set-up in the normal operating position.
- Know your load. Make sure that the weight and center of gravity of the load does not exceed the telehandler’s or attachment’s maximum capacity according to the load chart. Evaluate the dimensions of the load to determine proper load handling techniques. Always secure the load to minimize the potential for falling debris.
- Remember that there are additional restrictions placed on the operator, owner and user of the equipment when using a telehandler to lift personnel and suspended loads. Always refer to the ANSI/ITSDF B56.6 standard, OSHA Regulations, and the telehandler and attachment, manufacturer’s instructions regarding the additional requirements and operating instructions for these applications.
- Always wear your seatbelt while operating the telehandler. Adjust the seat and steering wheel so that you can easily reach all of the machine controls. Adjust side and cab mirrors to maximize visibility.
- Ensure that the combined center of gravity of the telehandler and the load always remains within the stability triangle. Good operating habits that can help are:
- Make sure the chassis is level before handling a load and never using the sway feature with an elevated load
- Keep the boom and load as low as possible during travel
- Operate the machine at speeds that will keep the machine and load under control at all times
- Do not jump from the machine if your telehandler tips over. Remain in the cab, stay in the seat with your seatbelt fastened and brace for impact by grasping the steering wheel and leaning away from the point of impact.
Keep these tips in mind, and you will be able to prevent incidents from happening while operating a telehandler on any jobsite.
Source: www.aerialpros.genielift.com
What's Wrong With This? Photo
Can you tell what's going wrong in this photo?
Have a photo you'd like to share? Send it to us!
Answer to Last Month's WWWT? Photo
Here's what Vertikal.net had to say about it:
Spotted by a reader in Iver, UK, a boom lift working over an open road, allowing traffic to pass under its boom.
The lift, a 46ft Haulotte HA16PX articulated boom lift is owned by rental company Kimberly Access, in the photo a truck passes underneath the horizontal boom, with what appears to be little clearance. There appears to be no traffic cones or any attempt to control traffic, the man in the platform is at least wearing a harness and may even have his lanyard attached to an anchor on the platform floor.
In the words of our correspondent: "Where is the traffic control? 'Oh I'll just let them drive under the boom and crack on with my job then, what could possibly go wrong?' It's bad enough, but this was not far from where a tragic boom accident that happened a few years ago."
We are not sure about this one, there has been some retouching of the drivers face, and the man in the platform seems almost unreal, it just smells a little odd! We wondered if it might have been set up – possibly for a training video or photographs? Or for other reasons? What do you think?
If it is real then definitely one for our Death Wish series and a prime illustration of how not to do things.
Have a photo you'd like to share? Send it to us!
Interesting Articles
Forklift operator killed in accident at NYC warehouse...more.
Excavator topples, injures worker in Chula Vista...more.
VIDEO: 5 Things You Should Know to Stay Safe in a Trench...more.
Saskatoon construction company fined $70K in scissor lift incident...more.
Man trapped under excavator in Australia...more.
Takeuchi tees up loader maintenance tips...more.
Two teens severely injured after 40ft fall from boomlift...more.
US crane certification on the way?...more.
22-month-old boy struck by loader, killed...more.
Man suffers head wound after he's trapped under a forklift in water...more.
Bucket of boomlift strikes power line, vehicles destroyed...more.
Client Testimonials
"I honestly learned a lot about forklifts. I had been trained before but I can see a lot of information was left out. I didn’t know about fulcrum and center of gravity. To me it was an awesome class." Dorothy, PepsiCo.
"Manuals are excellent. Everything was on point!" Lynn, R&R Diversified Services.
"This was hands down the best training course I have ever participated in. I know I am prepared to train operators after completing this course." Benjamin, KHS & S Contractors.
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