Seatbelts important in cars and forklifts

Fork Talk
- 29 Sep 2005 ( #228 )
1 min read
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.
Also Read:
How positive friction prevents forklift accidents before they happen
Stuart Taylor
3 minute read
How positive friction prevents forklift accidents before they happen Safety First - 27 Nov 2025 (#1258) Stuart Taylor is managing director of Mentor FLT Training Limited looks at ways positive friction can be used to help prevent forklift accidents from happening
How advanced relay contact design transforms forklift reliability
Carlos Mendes
3 minute read
How advanced relay contact design transforms forklift reliability Your Focus - 20 Nov 2025 (#1257) Carlos Mendes is a product manager for switching at Durakool, working closely with engineers and buyers to bridge the gap between application and specification.
Manual or automated material handling: finding the right balance
Diana Davoyan
3 minute read
Manual or automated material handling: finding the right balance Your Focus - 6 Nov 2025 (#1255) Diana Davoyan is a marketing professional and copywriter in the global robotics sector, with extensive experience in industrial and warehouse robotics. Here she looks at striking the right balance between manual and automated MH operations.
For more unique stories and expert insights: read our industry blogs
Blog articles provide perspectives and opinions and therefore may contain inaccurate or incomplete information. Forkliftaction Media accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. If you feel that significant facts are overlooked, or have a different viewpoint on a topic addressed, we invite you to open a conversation in our Discussion Forums.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Inside The News
In this week’s Forkliftaction News , we report on Hyster-Yale laying off staff in the US amid what it describes as “challenging market conditions”... Continue reading
Upcoming industry events …
December 4–7, 2025 - Goyang, Korea, Republic Of
March 10-12, 2026 - Hong Kong, Hong Kong
June 30-July 2, 2026 - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Editorial calendar - planned features
CONSTRUCTION FORKLIFTS
HANDLING GOODS IN THE COLD
LOADING/UNLOADING FREIGHT
BROWNFIELD AUTOMATION
FORKLIFT ATTACHMENTS
BATTERY AFFORDABILITY AND LIFETIME
FORKLIFT SAFETY
Upcoming industry events …
December 4–7, 2025 - Goyang, Korea, Republic Of
March 10-12, 2026 - Hong Kong, Hong Kong
June 30-July 2, 2026 - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Inside The News
In this week’s Forkliftaction News , we report on Hyster-Yale laying off staff in the US amid what it describes as “challenging market conditions”... Continue reading

PREMIUM business

Noblelift
Global leader and manufacturer of high quality electric, lithium-ion, and IC material handling equipment.