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    5 Ways to Maximize Forklift Safety

    As a piece of essential warehouse equipment, forklifts are everywhere. There are currently around 1,000,000 forklifts helping businesses stay organized, and productive throughout the United States. They are one of the most powerful tools in improving efficiency. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Forklifts can be hazardous, and the cause of expensive citations, workplace accidents, injuries, and even death.

    According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), forklift violations are consistently one of the top 10 violations costing businesses about $135,000,000 every year. OSHA also estimates that forklifts cause of approximately 110,000 accidents annually. Of these, about 35,000 resulted in serious injuries, and about 85 accidents resulted in death.

    Any workplace that uses forklifts should emphasize forklift safety. Promoting forklift safety will prevent costly violations and accidents. Here are 5 ways to optimize forklift safety:

    1. Make sure all employees are educated and properly trained and certified

    Studies show that proper training and education is a great deterrent of accidents. Employers should develop and implement a training program based on the general principles of safe operation, the types of forklifts used in the workplace, the potential hazards in the workplace, and the general safety requirements of the OSHA standard. According to OSHA, with these training policies, about 70% of forklift accidents could be prevented.

    Additionally, operators must be properly certified per OSHA regulations. OSHA requires forklift operator to be certified in a two-phase training course: a classroom-style training and test, and a hands-on evaluation. Only trained and competent operators can be permitted to operate a forklift. You can find all the necessary information about training and certification here.

    2. Understanding your forklift’s load capacity and the Stability Triangle

    Many forklift accidents happen because the operators are not knowledgeable about how much their forklifts can carry. In fact, tip-overs due overloading is a leading cause of forklift accidents. So, understanding your forklift’s load capacity is extremely important.

    A forklift’s load capacity is found in two places: on the data plate of the forklift, and in the operator’s manual. This capacity refers to a balanced load carried on the stated load center. It can change depending on the attachments used, the height of the lift, and the length of the load.

      • Forklift attachments are anything that is attached to the front carriage or attached to an attachment on the forklift. Generally, as you add attachments to the forklift, the load capacity decreases.
      • Lift height also affects load capacity. Forklifts with high masts will have lower capacity as the lift height increases.
      • The length of the load changes load capacity as well. The longer the length of the load is the lower the capacity.
    A forklift's stability is determined by the stability triangle

    Understanding the stability triangle helps with load capacity management, which is essential for forklift safety.

    The above three points factor into the center of gravity of your forklift as well. To prevent accidents, a forklift’s center of gravity should be within what is known as The Stability Triangle. The Stability Triangle is a triangle formed by connecting the two front wheels and the pivot point of the rear axle.

    With a load, the center of gravity of the forklift is at the center of the triangle. But as you add more weight to the forks or raise the mast with a load, the center of gravity shifts to the front of the triangle. Moving the center of gravity out of the Stability Triangle by adding too much weight or adding weight in the wrong places can cause tip-overs.

    3. Perform daily inspections and regular maintenance

    Maintaining your forklift is not just a great way to extend the life of your forklift, it is also one of the best ways to ensure forklift safety. Regular maintenance safeguards your forklifts against problems that go beyond the normal wear and tear. OSHA requires daily inspections to be performed at the beginning of each shift. If a forklift is equipped with a safety device, the device must be in good working order otherwise the forklift should be tagged out of service until it can be repaired. These daily inspections also help operators identify operational issues so they can be addressed before they become bigger problems or lead to accidents. By keeping your forklift in optimal working condition, you will have a safe operating experience.

    4. Be aware of your work environment

    A lack of awareness in the workplace can be detrimental not only to the products you are moving but also to your employees. Many accidents occur because the operator or someone in the forklift’s vicinity is not paying attention. Practice mindfulness by paying attention, keeping an eye on where you’re going, using your alarms to alert others of your presence, ensuring your loads are balanced and within load capacity, and driving safely. These five simple actions can prevent accidents and save lives.

    5. Store your forklifts properly

    Another way to promote forklift safety and prevent accidents is to store your forklifts properly after use. They should be parked on a flat surface. Engage your parking brakes. Make sure your forks are flush to the ground. The forklift should be turned off, and the keys should be removed from the ignition.

    At DIVAC, safety is a top priority. Our facilities have strict safety protocols, and all our operators are certified. We practice what we preach! Additionally, we are proud to provide customers with warehouse vehicles that have more standard safety features. Features such as our exclusive Guardian Stability System and Operator Sensing System, our high visibility cab and our rear grab bar with horn button help operators stay safe while improving productivity. Many of our equipment can also be equipped with blue lights for added visibility to pedestrian traffic. For more information on our safe and ergonomic products, please contact us.

    Doosan Announces Yankees Partnership

    Doosan Announces Multi-Year Partnership with the New York Yankees

    Yankees Monument Park Sign

    New York, NY (April 23, 2018)  – Doosan, a global leader in the Infrastructure Support Business, is proud to announce a multi-year partnership with the New York Yankees. The new partnership adds to Doosan’s existing sponsorship portfolio, which includes multi-year relationships with Major League Baseball and The Open Championship.

    “We are thrilled to be partnering with the New York Yankees as we embrace our 50th anniversary,” Tony Jones, VP/CEO of Doosan Industrial Vehicle of America Corporation stated. “To work closely with a brand that embodies tradition and moving forward is a great step towards brand recognition in the US market. Both Doosan and the Yankees will mutually work together to achieve greatness.”

    The partnership will provide Doosan with branding and marketing benefits including permanent branding at the visiting team’s on-deck location, exclusive VIP hospitality experiences throughout the season, and other experiences with players at Yankee Stadium.

    “We’re very excited that Doosan, a company with such an international presence, has chosen to partner with the Yankees,” said Bryan Calka, Vice President of Partnerships for the New York Yankees. “We believe that the combination of branding and experiences will assist in sales growth for all business segments globally.”

    Doosan’s multi-year MLB partnership began in the 2017 Postseason, where Doosan saw significant brand exposure across national broadcast and MLB-owned channels and was the first-ever brand to be presenting sponsor of the ALDS.

    Doosan’s subsidiaries, which reside in the U.S., account for $3 billion (US) in annual revenue and have approximately 4,000 employees, participated in this partnership in hopes of elevating Doosan’s brand awareness in the U.S. market and closely communicating with customers. While Doosan’s presence can be found in every area of the infrastructure support business, Doosan’s subsidiaries including Doosan Bobcat, Doosan Infracore,Doosan Industrial Vehicle, Doosan Fuel Cell, Doosan Turbomachinery Services, and Doosan GridTech are strengthening their presence in the U.S. market in the areas of construction equipment, logistics equipment, and energy.

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    About Doosan:Doosan is Korea’s oldest business organization with a proud history of longer than 120 years. As the world’s leading Infrastructure Support Business (ISB) provider, Doosan delivers the basics necessary for improving the quality of people’s lives. Doosan’s history represents a story of dynamic change and growth. Founded in 1896 as Korea’s first modern retail business, Doosan has transformed and established itself as a world-class ISB provider. With about 40,000 employees in 38 countries, Doosan now operates 25 affiliates and 121 global entities. Doosan’s presence can be found in every area of the infrastructure support business, which encompasses energy development, industrial facilities, parts and machinery, heavy equipment, construction, civil engineering, transportation and other value-added areas.

    About the New York Yankees: Founded in 1903, the New York Yankees are the most successful and popular team in Major League Baseball history, having won 27 championships while appearing in 40 World Series. The club plays its home games at Yankee Stadium, which is one of New York City’s most-frequented tourist destinations and home to numerous non-baseball events, including college football’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl. As a result of their on-field accomplishments and iconic interlocking “NY” logo, the Yankees are among the most recognized brands in the world.

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