THINK BEFORE YOU MOVE

When walking on the job, especially while handling materials, employees are exposed to many hazards. Consider these scenarios—perhaps you’ve faced something similar.

In one incident, an employee was inside a truck rolling empty drums onto the lift gate while another employee removed drums and raised the gate. The worker inside the truck had his back to the lift gate as he pulled the next drum into place, assuming the gate was level with the truck bed. As he swung the drum and stepped forward, he fell onto the lowered gate, with the drum following him, causing additional injuries.

Two errors in judgment contributed to the accident. First, he assumed the lift gate was in a safe position instead of checking. Second, he was moving a heavy, bulky object backwards. Always move materials in front of you so you can see where you’re going and stay clear if the load shifts.

In another incident, an employee was walking backward while directing a vehicle into a warehouse aisle. He didn’t see material sticking out from a lower rack, tripped, and fell. The vehicle pinned him against the rack, resulting in a cut on his leg and a badly bruised elbow.

This accident highlights two key points: the worker was not watching where he was going, and the workspace had an unsafe protruding object. Moving backward, particularly while handling materials, increases the risk of accidents.

Whenever possible, move forward. If you must move backward, always check your path first and continue to monitor it as you go. Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and prioritize safety at every step.