Forklifts are very useful tools. They’re most common in warehousing and storage facilities, but they can be used in any industry that requires the movement of heavy materials. Unfortunately, forklift accidents are also common.

叉车是非常有用的工具。被广泛地应用于仓库和存储设施，用来搬运很重的货物。很不幸叉车事故也经常发生。

Forklift accidents are particularly dangerous to pedestrians.

Pedestrians suffer 26% of all forklift-related injuries in U.S. workplaces. Many of these injuries are serious or fatal. Pedestrians can be struck or crushed by forklifts, hit by objects falling from a forklift, or fall off a forklift they are riding on. Pedestrians who are not trained to watch out for forklifts or who don’t comply with workplace safety policies have an increased risk of being struck by forklifts. However, most forklift accidents are preventable when pedestrians follow safe practices in the workplace.

叉车事故对于行人特别危险。美国有26%的叉车事故伴有行人的伤害，许多是重伤甚至是死亡事故。行人可能被叉车撞击，或者高空货物坠落，可能砸伤驾乘叉车的人员。行人未经培训，不能关注周边的叉车或者不遵守安全规则，也增加了事故。无论如何大部分事故都可以是避免的，只要人们遵守安全规则。

Understand the Hazard

理解安全风险

Pedestrians must understand the hazards that come with working around forklifts. Forklifts tip over easily and cannot brake quickly. The forks, mast, and cage can reduce visibility. Tall or bulky loads can severely restrict visibility as well. Forklifts are loud machines, and in noisy workplaces, it is hard for operators and pedestrians to hear one another. When forklifts are turning they are especially dangerous. The sharper the turn, the wider the angle the back of the forklift can take, and it can swing out and hit pedestrians. Each of these factors contributes to the risk of injury, but untrained forklift operators can also cause accidents. Speak to your supervisor if you see forklift operators acting in an unsafe manner.

行人必须理解伴随叉车的安全风险。叉车很容易翻车或者不能及时刹车。货叉、门架或吊笼等都可能影响视线。超高货物和大件物体都可能遮挡视线。尽管叉车是个噪音设备，但是当在吵闹的环境里，行人和操作员很难听到对方。当叉车转弯时是特别危险。一个大角度急转弯，可能导致很大的作用力，叉车晃动，很容易撞击到行人。每个因素都可能增加风险，但是未经培训/无资格人员操作叉车也会导致事故。请报告主管不安全的操作行为。

Use Pedestrian Walkways

使用人行道

Some workplaces have designated walkways for pedestrians. Pedestrian walkways may have permanent railings or other barriers to keep pedestrians from entering forklift paths. If a permanent barrier can’t be put in place, there should be stripes painted on the ground to show where pedestrians should walk. In areas where pedestrians and forklifts have to travel the same paths, there must be enough space for pedestrians to walk safely. If there is not enough room, it must be closed off to pedestrians while forklifts are in use. Keep aisles and passageways clean. If obstructions occupy pedestrian paths, people may walk in the path of forklifts. Remove materials and debris from walkways immediately, or speak to a supervisor if you can’t remove them yourself.

有些工作场所设置了人行道。人行道应是一个固定轨迹或使用栅栏，防止行人进入车行道。当无法布置栅栏时，应该在地面上用彩色长条，引导行人走入正确的道路。保持道路整洁。当道路被货物或废物占用时，应立即清理，否则行人可能进入车行道。如果自己不能清理，应立刻报告主管。

Stay Clear

保持警惕

It is important to remain out of the way of a moving forklift. Here are some practices to stay clear of forklifts at work:

• Do not approach a moving forklift
• If you must approach a forklift, approach it from the side AFTER it has stopped
• Keep your feet clear of the forklift
• Move away from the forklift before the operator moves it, do not wait for the forklift to move away from you
• Stand clear of a forklift while it’s turning

给行驶中的叉车让路，这个很重要。有以下的一些实践：

不要靠近移动的叉车

如果必须靠近叉车，一定要叉车停止后。

让自己的脚远离叉车。

在叉车启动前离开叉车，不要等到叉车启动。

与转弯的叉车保持足够的距离。

Communicate with Operators

与操作员沟通

If you can’t see a forklift operator, they probably can’t see you. Communication is key to your safety.

To communicate with forklift operators:

• Inform them that you’ll be entering the forklift area
• Before entering the forklift lane, stop, look both ways, and make eye contact with the operator
• Proceed through the area only when the operator signals that they see you

如果你看不到操作员，可能他们也看不到你。保持沟通对你的安全很关键。

与操作员沟通的内容：

     通知他们，你即将进入作业区

     在进入前，先停下来观察，确保与操作员有眼神接触

     只有等到操作员的清楚的信号后，确认他看到了你，才能继续前进。

Obey Workplace Traffic Rules

遵守交通规则

Traffic rules apply to pedestrians as well as forklifts. Make sure you only walk in pedestrian lanes. In areas with no designated travel lanes, stay to one side to allow room for forklifts to pass. Forklifts are supposed to yield to pedestrians, but they may not be able to see you or stop quickly, so always yield to forklifts unless you have made eye contact with the operator and they have given you the signal to go. Before entering traffic areas, stop, listen, and look both ways to make sure a forklift isn’t coming towards you.

交通规则适用于行人和叉车。确保自己在人行道行走。如果没有清晰的人行道，应该保持距离让叉车先通过。照理叉车应该礼让行人，但是他们可能没有看到你，或不能及时刹车，所以一定要让叉车先通过，除非你与叉车操作员有眼神交流确认。进入作业区前，先停下来，仔细听和观察，确保没有与你冲突的叉车接近。

Follow Basic Safety Procedures

遵守基本安全规则

Consider wearing highly visible protective equipment to make it easier for forklift operators to see you. Avoid distractions when walking into forklift traffic areas. Never ride on forklifts unless you’re authorized and have a safe place to ride, and never pass under an elevated load. Stay out of the path that the load can fall. Even if a forklift stops, its load may not. Don’t take shortcuts between stacked materials, and never climb over guardrails. Your workplace may have installed controls to ensure safety such as convex mirrors, speed limits, or extra lighting for dim areas. Use these to your advantage to travel safely around the workplace. Finally, report any unsafe behavior by forklift operators or pedestrians to your supervisor.

建议穿高可视度的反光衣，这样操作员就很容易看到你。避免慌乱地进入作业区。永远不要搭乘叉车，除非有特别的批准，且有足够的安全空间。永远不要从提升的货物下走过。与叉车路保持距离，因为货物可能坠落，即使叉车停止了，货物还有惯性。不要在货物间走近路，永远不要爬防护栏。你的工作场所可能有安全装置，比如球面镜、限速器和警示灯等，要尽量利用这些安全装置让自己安全行走。最后，记得要向主管报告不安全的行人和操作员。

Summary

总结

Forklifts are useful, but dangerous. Working around them requires constant awareness. Forklift operators will do what they can to do their job safely, but pedestrians must take responsibility for their own safety. If you are a pedestrian in your workplace, remain aware of your surroundings, communicate with forklift operators, and follow workplace safety policies at all times.

叉车是有益的，但也是危险的。在它们周围工作需要时刻保持警惕。如果叉车操作员不能安全驾驶，那么行人必须承担起保证自身安全的责任。如果你是一个物流区域的行人，请对周围环境保持警惕，与操作员保持沟通，时刻遵循安全守则。