Newsletter #228 (View other news stories)
Seatbelts important in cars and forklifts
MELBOURNE, Australia
Thursday, 29 Sep 2005
WorkSafe Victoria inspectors will visit 500 large and small workplaces in their latest safety campaign.
During safety checks, the inspectors will look for seatbelts on forklifts and check whether they are in good working condition.
WorkSafe executive director John Merritt said forklift seatbelt use could save lives.
"If a tip-over happens when a seatbelt is used the operator stays in the forklift rather than ending up under it. That’s why seatbelts are important," Merritt said.
"Modern forklifts are sold with seatbelts. Older ones often have the capacity to have them fitted. If they can be fitted, they should be. Seatbelts can be fitted to 90 per cent of forklifts
"As in a car, seatbelts can mean the difference between life and death," he said.
With tip-overs rated the second-highest cause of forklift-related deaths in Victoria, "expect to be inspected", Merritt said.
There are 85,000 forklifts operating in Victoria.
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