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

3  Protect Yourself

Protect Yourself

Know the Hazards

DRIVE CAREFULLY

• Keep your hands on the controls and feet on the 

pedals. Keep your body within the operator area.

• Never stick a foot or any part of your body outside 

the operator area, no matter slow the truck is moving. 

You cannot stop 4500kg or 10,000 pounds with any 

part of your body. A foot or hand caught between  

the truck and a fixed object will be crushed or even 

cut off. 

• Don't put hands or arms over the load backrest.
• Stay away from the edge of docks and ramps. Make 

sure dockboards are secure. Check that trailer wheels 

are chocked. You could be seriously injured or even 

killed in a fall from a dock or dockboards.

• 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.  

• Perform all tuck movements smoothly and at a speed 

that will give you time to react in an emergency.

LOOK WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING

• You could be pinned or crushed by objects intruding 

or poking into the operator area.

• Always be alert to the area around you and watch 

where you are driving.

Protect Yourself   4

Know the Hazards

AVOID FALLS AND TIPOVERS

Falls from docks and tipovers are very serious 

accidents; you can be crushed or even killed.  

Immediately exit and move away from the truck in 

these emergencies.

Note:

 This is not like sit-down rider trucks, where it is 

recommended that the operator stay with the truck. 

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 YOUR TRUCK SAFELY

• Keep your hands and feet away from all moving parts  

   such as forks and wheels.
• Never allow passengers anywhere on the truck.     

   There is no safe place for them.
• Before you leave your truck:
   • Come to a complete stop.
   • Lower the forks to the floor.
   • Shut the truck off with the key or disconnect    

      the battery.

Stay clear of all 
moving parts.

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

WARNING