Safety First - also on the company premises
The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) has determined that in 2010 alone, 10,759 accidents occurred with forklifts. That's bad. Moreover, there are often complex insurance-related responsibilities to be clarified afterwards. This is because it is considered "public road traffic" if the plant premises can be generally used with the permission of the person authorized to dispose of the forklift, i.e., even people from outside the plant can drive on or enter the area.
In this case, forklifts are subject to the StVO. In this case, not only do the accident prevention regulations for industrial trucks apply, but the regulations of road traffic law also apply. This in turn means that additional requirements are placed on the equipment of the forklift and the attachments as well as the qualification of the drivers.
Grey area within the company
Whether a forklift operation takes place on an area with "restricted public ways" must be clarified with the responsible authorities in each individual case. A preventive check, also involving the contractual insurer, is therefore advisable and can protect the company from unpleasant surprises. If approval of the forklift truck for public road traffic is necessary, a wide range of measures must be taken. First and foremost, this means obtaining an operating permit, and this requires warning lights, a warning triangle, a tine guard, a lighting system in accordance with the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) and a TÜV approval. This may also require reducing the maximum speed of the truck. This is because vehicles that, due to their design, cannot travel faster than 20 km/h are exempt from compulsory registration and vehicle tax, and instead of an official license plate, only require a label with the owner's name and address.
Detailed information on the use of forklifts within the company or on public roads can be obtained from the relevant authorities or from the company's insurers. When it comes to retrofitting forklifts, Gruma is available as a competent contact.
Safety measures and protection
Although many forklifts are equipped with a safety belt, experience has shown that the driver often fails to wear it. According to company regulations, not only the driver is then responsible in the event of damage, but also the company. Gruma therefore offers a wide range of alternatives for driver protection: from automatic seatbelt restraint systems to safety folding restraints and closed cabs, there are many sensible measures for preventing personal injury in the event of accidents. Gruma's complete all-round range for forklifts can be found at: www.gruma-gabelstapler.de