3 Protect Yourself; Protect Yourself; Protect Yourself 4- Page 3

3  Protect Yourself

Protect Yourself

Know the Hazards

WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT

Falling from a truck can cause serious injury or  

even death.
• Fasten your seat belt and pull it snug before operating  

  your truck. Keep it fastened until you leave the truck.

 • Stay with your truck. Don't jump from an overturning  

 or falling sit-down, counterbalanced truck. 

Note:

This is not like end control rider trucks, where it is 

recommended that the operator exit the truck in 

these emergencies.

DRIVE CAREFULLY

• Never stick your foot, hand, head or any part of your  

 body outside the operator area, no matter how slow  

 the truck is moving. Anything caught between the  

 truck and a fixed object will be crushed or even  

 cut off.

• Stay away from the edge of docks and ramps. Make  

 sure dock boards are secure. Check that trailer    

 wheels are chocked.  You could be seriously injured  

 or even killed in a fall from a dock or dockboard. 

• Keep your truck under control at all times. Drive at a  

 speed that allows you to stop safely. Be even more  

 careful on slippery or uneven surfaces. Do not drive  

 over objects on the floor. 

LOOK WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING

• Always be alert to the area around you and watch  

 where you are driving. You could be pinned or    

 crushed by objects intruding or poking into the    

 operator area. 

• Be sure that any equipment added to the truck    

 (terminal, fan, clipboard, etc.) does not block your  

 vision or interfere with safe and efficient operation of 

this truck.

Protect Yourself   4

Know the Hazards

AVOID FALLS AND TIPOVERS

Tipovers are very serious accidents. You can be 

crushed or even killed by the falling truck if you try 

to jump clear. Keep your seatbelt fastened, grip the 

steering wheel tightly, brace your feet, and lean away 

from the direction of fall. The best way to prevent 

injury is to know where you are at all times and follow 

the rules of safe truck operation.
• Be extremely careful when working around docks,  

  dockboards and trailers.
• Use forward tilt only when you have the load in a  

  rack,  over a stack or close to the floor. 
• Travel with the load or forks close to the ground and  

  mast tilted back. Watch for overhead obstructions.  

  Perform all truck movements smoothly and at a speed  

  that will give you time to react in an emergency. 
• An unloaded truck can tip over also. Be just as careful 

using an unloaded truck as you are a loaded one.

USE YOUR TRUCK SAFELY

• Keep your hands and feet away from all moving parts  

such as masts, chains or wheels. Make sure the load 

backrest is in place, when required.

• Never stand on or under the forks, or allow anyone 

else to stand on or under them. The only way to lift 

people is with an approved platform.  

Never allow passengers on the truck. There is no safe 

place for them.

• Before you leave your truck:

• Come to a complete stop, lower forks to the floor and 

shut the truck off.

• Place the direction control in neutral and apply the  

parking brake. Chock wheels if on an incline.

Stay clear of all 

moving parts.

Moving parts can 

cut or crush hands, 

feet, arms or legs.

WARNING