Discussing Forklift Safety with Garrett Paloncy

Garrett Paloncy on Forklift Safety

Garrett Paloncy has been a certified forklift trainer since 2006. He has trained workers at large construction companies such as H.C. Beck, Fortune Johnson, and Bovis Landlease. These companies often must hire trainers like Garrett Paloncy in order to be compliant with state and federal safety laws, but employers also know that the training that Garrett Paloncy provides can help keep workers safe and keep insurance costs down.

According to Garrett Paloncy, driving a forklift is a lot different than driving a car. Often, this is the first point he must make during a training session. People who hop right into a forklift without understanding the mechanics that lie under the machine do so at their peril. In essence, a forklift is a bit like driving a triangle, says Garrett Paloncy. The operator must keep the load on the forklift carefully balanced so the machine won't tip over or the load won't fall backward and hit the operator. Often, this means the operator must keep a sort of triangle in his or her head, and think of the front axel of the forklift as the center point of the fulcrum.

In addition, a forklift with a heavy load can simply be more prone to falling over in rough terrain, Garrett Paloncy says. He often encourages his trainees to walk along the path they'll be taking with their forklift. On this walk, they look for loose dirt, large stones, rutted ground or anything else that could cause a hazard. Then, Garrett Paloncy can help them plan a route around these obstacles.

Garrett Paloncy also stresses that operators should wear a seatbelt at all times. Many people think they can avoid snapping on a belt when they're only driving a few feet with the forklift, but Garrett Paloncy thinks this is a mistake. It's best to remember that wearing a seatbelt can help prevent operators from being thrown out of the vehicle if an accident does occur. Staying in the vehicle could help the operator avoid being hit or killed by the load hauled in the forklift.

Finally, Garrett Paloncy reminds his trainees that the loads in a forklift often block the view of the driver. It can be hard to see pedestrians who dart in front, and it can be difficult to spot hazards on the ground. Garrett Paloncy provides some guidance operators can use to avoid hitting something during their trips.