Stay clear of all; AVOID FALLS AND TIPOVERS; USE YOUR TRUCK SAFELY- Page 3

Protect Yourself   4

Know the Hazards

Protect Yourself   4

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 and lower forks to the floor.
• Shut truck off with the key or power disconnect.
• Apply the parking brake.

Stay clear of all
moving parts.

Moving parts can
cut or crush hands,
feet, arms or legs.

Know the Hazards

Protect Yourself

3   Protect Yourself

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.

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 rider truck.  

Note:

 This is not like 

stand-up end control rider trucks, where it is 

recommended that the operator exit the truck in these

emergencies.