What is a Hazard Datasheet on Occupation? 

This datasheet is one of the International Datasheets on Occupations. It is intended for those professionally concerned with health and safety at work: occupational physicians and nurses, safety engineers, hygienists, education and Information specialists, inspectors, employers ' representatives, workers' representatives, safety officers and other competent persons. 

This datasheet lists, in a standard format, different hazards to which forklift truck operators may be exposed in the course of their normal work. This datasheet is a source of information rather than advice. With the knowledge of what causes injuries and diseases, is easier to design and implement suitable measures towards prevention. 

This datasheet consists of four pages:

 Page 1: Information on the most relevant hazards related to the occupation.

 Page 2: A more detailed and systematized presentation on the different hazards related to the job with indicators for preventive measures (marked and explained on the third page). 

Page 3: Suggestions for preventive measures for selected hazards. 

Page 4: Specialized information, relevant primarily to occupational safety and health professionals and including information such as a brief job description, a list of tasks, notes and references.

Who is a forklift truck operator? 

A worker who drives an industrial truck equipped with lifting devices, and performs various tasks related to this job.

What is dangerous about this job? 

Forklift trucks sometimes overturn due to overload, incorrect load positioning, driving and operating errors, or poor maintenance. 

This put their operators at a life-threatening risk. Operators of forklift trucks may suffer serious traumas when the load falls from the truck, or stacked load collapses, etc. 

Forklift Truck Operators may, in the course of time, suffer from back, neck and hands and arm pains, cause by uncomfortable seating, vibrations and excessive physical efforts.

Hazards related to this job

Specific preventive measures can be seen by clicking on the respective in the third column of the table.