1. Aim High In Steering

Check what’s happening down the road ahead of you, where you will be in a few seconds.

Don’t just focus immediately in front of your vehicle. Potential problems begin to develop well ahead of you.

This is important for several reasons.  Being aware of what’s happening in the distance gives you the time and space to make good decisions.  It helps you center the vehicle properly in the driving lane, allows you more time for selecting the proper lane, helps you control speed and adjust your following distance, and enables you to blend into the traffic pattern smoothly.  

2. Get The Big Picture

Know what’s going on all around your vehicle.
Don’t stare at anything for longer than 2 seconds.
Make it a habit to check your mirrors every 5-8 seconds.

3. Keep Your Eyes Moving

Keep your eyes moving, every 2 seconds.
Before entering an intersection look left, right, and left again.

4. Leave Yourself An Out

Think ahead. You will need to react quickly if the unexpected happens.
Plan away out that allows enough time, space, visibility to stop or maneuver smoothly.
Be prepared to yield – the other driver might not.

5. Make Sure They See You

If you’ve followed the first four principles you will know what to do, and have the time and space to do it. Make the decision and do it!

Some of the most dangerous situations arise out of common mistakes that can be easily avoided. This tool box talk will focus on some of the more common (and commonly overlooked) safety issues that should be prevented too help improve safety performance.

Common Mistakes:

1. Lack of Housekeeping: It may seem simple, but a messy or dirty work area makes for an unsafe work environment. Pallet banding lying on the ground, spilled oil and obstructed walkways all result in numerous injuries each year.  See an important video about slips and falls here.

2. Not Using Lockout/Tagout on Equipment: It is imperative to disable equipment prior to beginning re pairs. Some control measures to consider include; parking brake set and wheel chocks or blocks in place, isolate energy (battery/fuse) and/or remove key, attachments blocked/cribbed or placed on ground, remove stored energy, master switch disabled and try start or stop switch before beginning work.  See an important video about a lockout/tagout program here.

3. Improper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE is the last line of defense in protecting employees. Therefore, the improper use of PPE, or failure to wear the proper PPE, or to maintain and replace defective PPE, increases the likelihood of injury.  See an important video about PPE here.

4. Not Having a Process or a Plan: Most workplace injuries occur when work being done is not part of a normal process. It is important to have a work plan for non-process work. Completing a JSA, planning the work and asking “What if …?” questions will help identify hazards and implement controls to prevent injuries.  See an important video about safety accountability here.

5. Failure to Communicate: One of the easiest things to prevent unsafe conditions is to discuss what hazards or unsafe acts have been noticed. Communicating the hazards and failures in process is an essential element in protecting yourself and your co-workers from the hazards that potentially exist in the workplace.  See an important video about feedback here.

Prior to use and at least once every three years, operators must be trained and evaluated on forklift operations. Training must be completed before operators are permitted to use the equipment.

Safety on a Forklift:

1. Use the seat belt. It will keep you secured in the seat in the unplanned event of a tip over.

2. A parked forklift should have the forks flat on the floor with the controls set to neutral and with the parking brake set.

3. A forklift is considered to be "unattended" if the operator is more than 25 feet away or if the forklift is out of the direct vision of the operator. Unattended forklifts should be parked with the power turned off.

4. When operating the forklift on inclines, the load should always be on the uphill side of the incline. Drive forward going up the incline. Drive backward going down the incline.

5. When traveling without a load on the forks, keep the forks approximately four to six inches off the floor.

6. Never allow anyone to walk underneath a raised load.

7. Stop at all blind corners to check for other traffic in the area. This includes other forklifts and pedestrians. Honk your horn and look before you proceed.

8. If carrying a tall load that blocks your forward vision, drive in reverse and turn your head so you can see where you are going.

9. If operating around other forklifts maintain a three-forklift length distance between forklifts and never attempt passing.

10. Never drive a forklift up to the back of a person who is unaware that the forklift is behind them.

1. Tire condition / wheel nuts
2. Hydraulic oil level and hoses
3. Hoist, tilt and attachment operation
4. Forks, mast and hoist chain
5. Lights, horn and fire extinguisher
6. Hand and service brake
7. Steering
8. Correct operation of Instruments
9. Forklift body, seat and seatbelt
10. Report oil leaks or unusual noises
11. Noise – exhaust

Before Operation

If problems can be identified before operation, needless accidents can be prevented and the equipment will remain properly maintained.

Pre-Start Procedures

Be qualified to operate the equipment. Only those that are familiar with operating the equipment should attempt to move it.

• Read and understand the Operation and Maintenance Manual.
• Always perform a walk around inspection.
• Clear all personnel and obstacles from the equipment path.
• Clean and secure all windows and doors.
• Adjust mirrors, if provided, for optimum vision.
• Adjust seat for pedal operation and operator’s height.
• Inspect and fasten seat belt or harness.
• Sound horn prior to start-up.
• Start engine from operator’s compartment only.

Preparing to Move

• Face the equipment when climbing on and off.
• Sound horn to communicate your intentions to move equipment (allowing 3-5 seconds after to enable anyone to move out of the way).
• Raise all lowered implements.
• Push on the service brake pedal and disengage parking brake.
• Unlock transmission and move control lever to desired gear.
• Release the service brake pedal.

If you will be using a spotter, make sure both you and the spotter understand what you are going to do. Discuss signals and communication methods prior to moving the equipment. If you lose sight of your spotter stop the vehicle until it is regained.

These procedures may sound like common sense, but if abused by operators it can result in minor or major injuries.

Taking Stock of Your Safety Culture
Most accidents occur because of risky behavior. What plans and processes, training and procedures do you have in place to make safety a top priority on your job site?

Start with a safety perception survey—click here.

We are all committed to helping you make sure everyone who works on or around your job sites returns home safely every day.

Caterpillar Safety Services can help you engage your entire organization in a culture of zero-incident performance. They’ll guide you along your safety journey by providing industry best practices, continuous improvement processes and the latest technologies to see, mitigate and manage risks. Visit cat.com to learn more, or contact Jeff Stewart at HOLT CAT for more information.

Machine Safety Checklists
Caterpillar has safety checklists—safety and maintenance inspection checklists and start-up and shut-down procedures for most machines on its website. Go here to learn more at cat.com.

Starting a New Job
When you move from one work area to another, you may encounter an entirely different set of hazards or site conditions. When you arrive at a new site, immediately ask your supervisor or another employee at the site if there are dangerous conditions or situations of which you should be aware.

Safety Tips

• Learn all work site rules.
• Learn all signals, who has signaling responsibility, and who has the right-of-way in each situation.
• Learn the meaning of all flags, signs, and markings.
• Know procedures for a disabled machine.
• Be aware of indoor clearances and weight limitations.
• Check to see that all enclosed areas are properly ventilated.
• Check the conditions of haul roads.
• Know the direction of travel on haul roads.
• Identify holes, obstructions, mud, and/or ice.
• Be aware of thick dust, smoke, and fog.
• Locate all utility lines.

Get more information and further toolbox talks by going to the cat.com website.

Measuring Noise
Noise hazard depends on the level (sometimes called in tensity) of the noise, its duration, and how often the exposure occurs. The point above which regular exposure to sounds become hazardous is a level of about 85 decibels (abbreviated dB, or sometimes dBA which is the value that more closely corresponds to human hearing).

You Don’t Get "Used to Noise"
Noise does not have to be uncomfortably loud or even painful, to be damaging. You may think your ears are “used to the noise,” but what is probably happened is that your hearing has been dulled or that hearing loss has already begun.

Rule of Thumb
When you feel the need to shout in order to be heard three feet away, the noise levels are probably 85 dBA or more and hearing protection should be worn.

Using Your Ears to Assess Noise Risk
If, after the noise stops you notice a ringing, buzzing, or whistling in your ears this is a warning indicator. Called tinnitus, this is like a “sunburn” of the nerve cell of your inner ear, indicating that they have been irritated and overworked. If you don’t protect yourself from noise in excess of 85 dBA the condition can become permanent. Repeatedly exposing your ears to 85 dBA or more without hearing protection can cause untreatable damage to your hearing ability.