Forklift hoists pallet during safety day

Safety in use of materials handling equipment was the focus of a five-hour stand-down day at Ramstein Air Base on 28 June.

"Units here took a half-day break from normal forklift and other materials handling equipment operations to focus on safety," reports Staff Sgt Travis Edwards, with the US 86th Airlift Wing public affairs office.

Drills involved loading and unloading practices, the correct way to function as a spotter, operator care and maintenance and inspection of equipment.

In the past 30 months, bases of the US Air Forces in Europe and Africa units have experienced one disability, 23 lost work days and approximately USD325,000 in damage to materials handling equipment.

All equipment operators go through US Occupational Safety and Health Administration's training and recertification every three years. Each unit's vehicle control officer conducts recertification training and oversees a written test.