Emergency Procedures, Incident Response and Shutdown
Emergency procedures
Know the site emergency procedures: evacuation routes, assembly points, and emergency contacts. In case of a forklift tip-over, do not jump; stay in the seat, brace yourself, and hold on. If a fire occurs, use the correct fire extinguisher (e.g., ABC or CO2 for electrical) only if trained and safe to do so. For battery charging emergencies, follow spill and gas procedures. Report all incidents, including near misses, to your supervisor and complete required documentation.
Incident response
After an incident, secure the area, provide first aid if trained, and report to the supervisor. Do not move equipment unless necessary for safety. Preserve the scene for investigation. Notifiable incidents must be reported to the regulator immediately.
Shutdown procedures
At the end of the shift, park the forklift in a designated area, lower forks to the ground, apply the parking brake, turn off the ignition, remove the key, and secure it as required. For electric forklifts, connect to the charger. Complete any post-operational checks and report defects.
Traps in exam questions
- Jumping from a tipping forklift.
- Using the wrong fire extinguisher.
- Failing to report near misses.
- Not following shutdown procedures.
Worked example
If a forklift starts to tip over, you should stay in the seat, hold the steering wheel, brace your feet, and lean away from the direction of the fall. Do not jump. Rule: stay inside and hold on.
Key points
- Know evacuation routes and emergency contacts.
- In a tip-over, stay in the seat and hold on.
- Use correct fire extinguisher only if trained.
- Report all incidents and near misses.
- Follow shutdown procedures: park, lower forks, brake, key off.