I agree with many of the previous posts. Be sure to document: your training procedures (including your hands-on evaluation process), document your company forklift policies and disciplinary action that will occur for any and all incidents, accidents or near misses.

If and when there are changes or updates in policy and procedures that occur have a refresher class for all operators. Create documentation each must sign and agree that they are aware of the new company policy. I also like the idea of utilizing a product like Shockwatch. Unfortunately, it does not do anything to prevent an incident, accident or near miss. However, it could prove beneficial with disciplinary action if it were to occur.

It would be hard for the employee to dispute any disciplinary action since the operator using the piece of equipment would be signed in to the system when it occurred. Also, peer pressure can do wonders, especially if after the impact, a supervisor has to come out and reset the truck.

Safety in the warehouses are a priority for all the warehouse managers. All the necessary training as well as safety equipment still sometimes fails in the face of certain accidents. However having a proper security and surveillance systems can help avert avoidable incidents by letting the staff know of any faulty equipment before hand.

As well as painting the potential hit items as you have done, if it's on cement paint a yellow line on the ground half a meter from the object. It stands out if people are over that line and close to the object. Also if they do do this, the paint in that section will wear off faster and you can see how close they are cutting the corner.

EVERY operator should be held accountable for the operation of his lift and any accidents he has on it.
ways to help keep him in check?
slow the lifts down, set the max speed to a slower rate if it is adjustable on the machine, if not then as has been suggested, install a speed limiter on it.
Putting a wireless collison system or shockwatch impact manager is kinda redundant being that he is trying to prevent the collision before it happens. But none the less if the operator thinks he is being watched or recorded by the device on the lift then he will be more conscientious of how he drives and have less incidents.

As far as wireless speed managers how well do they actually work? I have not had any exposure to these yet. How much do they cost and how accurate and dependable are they?
From a sales standpoint i'm sure i'll hear the usually hype but i want to know the real deal on them from warranty returns, failure rates, etc.

in the end i think usually what works best is to slow the lifts down.

Hi Jeff. Sounds more like an awareness and attitude situation here. In Alberta, as a Trainer, there are four factions to my safety course. Skill, Knowledge, Awareness and Attitude. Awareness and Attitude are the most important functions I teach in safety. If these two are lacking then the rest doesn't matter. Teaching awareness and attitude by consequences of actions and real life accident involvement, my students realize they do not drive from the seat of a forklift, but rather from the perspective of the tips of the forks and the rear of the forklift. We have been very successful in this training method and if this is something that might help you, by all means drop me a line.
Cheers

Sounds to me like operator error. At one shop I worked at years ago, they would suspend guys from driving forklifts if they had repeat incidents. A month of pushing a broom helped wonders. Of course, re-training never hurts.

Hi, I think our systems can help on different levels starting from
"Easy" version (acoustic and visual alarms only) to "Mini" one (eventually providing slowdown and stop).
You can check out our product range on http://sis.cypag.com

One of my largest customer was having problems with damages caused by Forklifts and started putting up video cameras in the areas where most of the damages accured. They found alot of the damages were caused by drivers talking on phones and talking to by standers. Basicly not paying attention. Showing it on video to your associates after it happens is by far the best medicine.

Or wireless speed control system, that automatically reduces the machines speed when in areas that impacts are of concern. When machine leaves the area the speed automatically re enables back to normal speed limitations

I can provide you with a wireless control solution, when forklift gets closer than programed range from the post an alarm will activate on the forklift or on the post as well you can optionaly shut the machine off untill a manager resets the machine with a hand held remote seaportsolution.com

Yea. I'd suggest some retraining maby.

Wireless Proximity safety and wireless automatic speed control technologies

Our most recent customers are becoming aware of the requirements concerning company accountability for the safety of their employees. This system allows for the automatic notification of either personnel and or other machines in the immediate vicinity of the machine they are in control of.

In one of our customers large outdoor production facilities the amount of heavy equipment and large truck traffic including the presence of people walking, was of great safety concern for both the operators as well as pedestrians, to know when their safety and health was potentially being compromised was a very real issue. Now with all of their equipment being fitted with our M2M / M2P alert systems as well as personal tags, all of the people working on the site are now aware of everyone else wirelessly / automatically.

Wireless proximity and wireless proximity automatic speed control systems are available
I have been designing and engineering wireless safety solutions for the last 5 years, using the latest products available for the overall improved safety of the material handling industries

There's a couple of different Impact Sensor devices such as Shockwatch or G-Force that you can buy from any of your local forklift dealers. It depends on how in-depth you want to get as to which of either one of these that you are interested in. Either one can show you at the time of impact, who was operating lift, how hard the impact was. You can also have them completely shut down the machine and have to be reset by supervisor. Also either one can give you fleet reports too.

Let's sit the operator down and have a robust discussion regarding his obligations to his family first. In this way we might facilitate a natural sequence of responsibilities leading to better conduct during each shift. Building columns are designed to withstand some impact, yes, but society is less tolerant. Refresher training 'is' a slap on the rist, if a workplace breach has occured, repeatedly. Sit him/her down at work with their life partner and 'go over' the rules again. See how the Minister for Internal Finances and Home Activities (operator's wife/husband) reacts to this. The operator might improve after such a special meeting. One may assume.