Safety instructions about forklifts

Forklifts are industrial vehicles made to take the place of manual lifting and manual work. There are two “forks” or arms located at the front of the vehicle that are used to lift, lower, stack and unstack heavy loads. The loads are usually stacked on top of wooden pallets that the arms or forks fit into to bring a large quantity of things up or down at once. The drivers cause almost 50% of accidents involving forklifts. Normally, the driver has hit a pedestrian. Therefore, forklifts and people should not be in the vicinity of each other. Some other forklift related accidents include: Forklift tipping over and overturning Collision with other vehicles or stationary objects Part of the operator's body leaning out of the cabin and hitting an object The load falling off the pallets There are things that can be done by the employee to reduce the number of forklift accidents. First, the driver should always perform a pre-safety check of the vehicle before operating. Once the driver sees that all is in tact, while driving the vehicle the driver should use safe handling procedures of the load. This includes paying close attention to the load limit of each particular forklift. Since forklifts are a gas-powered vehicle, gasoline limits and storage should be carefully observed. In addition to safe fuel use, the battery also needs to be handled and cared for properly to ensure safety. Here are a few safety procedures that should be followed by all employees. Some of them may seem like common sense, but they are so important that they are in need of repeating. Passengers on forklifts to be strictly forbidden, unless there is a separate seat provided with a restraint Other people kept clear when forklift is operating Operator should take care when moving between artificial and natural light Load made secure and lowered to safe centre of gravity before carrying Sudden stops and starts are to be avoided No part of the operator's body to protrude beyond the overhead protection Ramps not to be used unless the forklift operator is trained in their use Operator to remain seated and secured at all times Forklift to operate within a designated area, separate from pedestrians Operator to remain in the cabin when a forklift overturns Most importantly: PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER BE RAISED ON THE FORKLIFT OR THE PALLETS IF THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO LIFT A WORKER, A PROPER WORK PLATFORM MUST BE USED In addition to checking the vehicle daily for safety hazards, the workplace should also be checked for the following: Power-lines Blind corners Pedestrian areas Low doorways Uneven floors Ramps Overhead pipes and fittings Confined spaces Adequate lighting Noise Above all else, a training coarse must be completed before attempting to drive or operate a forklift. Besides formal instruction, the training must include practical training (such as demonstrations) and an evaluation of the operator in the workplace to assure that he can operate the forklift safely. Initial training content must consist of both truck-related topics and workplace-related topics. Some truck-related topics include: operating instructions, warnings and precautions specific to the trucks the employee will be authorized to operate differences between the truck and the automobile truck controls and instrumentation engine or motor operation steering and maneuvering visibility fork and attachment adaptation, operation and use limitations; vehicle capacity vehicle stability any vehicle inspection and maintenance that the operator must perform; refueling and/or charging and recharging of batteries operating limitations any other information from the forklift operator's manual. Some workplace related topics include: surface conditions where the vehicle will be operated composition of loads and load stability load manipulation, stacking and unstacking pedestrian traffic narrow aisles and other restricted places where the vehicle will be operated any hazardous (classified) locations, such as flammable storage areas, where the vehicle will be operated ramps and other sloped surfaces; closed environments and other areas where insufficient ventilation or poor vehicle maintenance could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide or diesel exhaust; and other unique or potentially hazardous environmental conditions in the workplace.

Must have top notch fog lights

When the weather starts to get bad, there’s rain, snow, sleet or a lot of fog and drivers all too well know the dangers that can come. So it’s a good idea to have good quality fog lights in your vehicle to prevent any accidents. When it starts to get foggy the level of danger increases, since the headlights are pretty much useless at this point. There is no use for them because the light just gets reflected off the fog and creates a phenomenon called dispersion. This just creates more visibility problems for you. Therefore fog lights are a necessity when driving through a foggy area. Fog lights are different from headlights because they are yellow instead of the white headlights. A cautious driver would want to have fog lights, fog lights are easy to buy and aren’t very expensive. Purchasing fog lights are very good investment. They will ensure your safety down the road, because you never know what will happen. It’s better to be safe then sorry. This little task can even save you money, if you got into a car wreck because you had no fog light. Think of the expenses. Sure your insurance will cover the expenses of your car, but don’t forget your premium will increase. In the end you would have to pay more money. So it would just be easier on everyone if you just go to your local store and pick up a fog light, there are many choices to choose from, if you need help just ask the salesperson they’ll be happy to assist you. Buying fog lights is a great investment; you never know when you’re going to come across a foggy area. That small gesture can help you quite a bit, by getting the lights you won’t have to worry so much the next type you are in a foggy area.

Seven vital facts about your car s air conditioning system

Air conditioning, which was once a great luxury, is now a common feature on most motor vehicles. While the servicing of modern car air conditioning systems is best left to professionals, you can get the most enjoyment from your ac system if you know a bit about how it works and what malfunctions you should be on the lookout for. 1. Odd smells coming from the air conditioning may be caused by bacterial buildups As your car becomes older, or when the air conditioning system is used infrequently, bacteria, micro-organisms, mold and fungi may start growing, just behind the dash panel on the evaporator causing some very unpleasant odors. Some even claim this can result in headaches and flu like symptom sometimes referred to as “sick car syndrome.” This problem can be solved by using an anti-bacterial treatment that destroys the bacteria growth and leaves your car smelling fresh again. 2. If you car does not feel cold enough, then you may need to recharge your system If you feel that your car doesn’t feel as cold as your friend’s car, then your system may need servicing. The air conditioning system in your vehicle is not usually covered by most manufacturers servicing schedules and the refrigerant gas that is used to operate the system depletes over time. On average most vehicles lose up to 15% per annum. This leakage can be caused when then system is not used during the winter months. Thus allowing the small “O” ring seals to dry out resulting in a gradual deterioration in system performance. If this continues, eventually the system will not be able to operate at all. Most problems of this type can be put right fairly easily by a leak check of your system followed by a complete refill of your air conditioning refrigerant, this is sometimes referred to as a re-gas. 3. Running your air conditioning year round will help maintain the system If you run the air conditioning in the winter it will help to keep the system well lubricated and leak tight. This is because the refrigerant actually carries the oil that lubricates the system and most importantly the compressor. It also keeps the seals and hoses moist, thus preventing them from drying out and cracking which can lead to leaks. 4. Strange noises coming from the air conditioning should be attended to immediately If your air-con system suddenly starts making noises you have not heard before it is very advisable to have a qualified vehicle air conditioning specialist to have a look at it. Some noises could be early symptoms of a compressor failure (the compressor is the air conditioning pump).The compressor is usually the most expensive part on the system ranging from approximately Ј230 to Ј600+ and if the bearings in your compressor break down or if the compressor seizes up it also means that other components can become contaminated with metal particles A flush of the system would then be needed as well as replacement of the compressor, the receiver/drier and the expansion valve - quite a hefty bill! 5. Don’t worry about a pool of water forming under your car after using the A/C If you see a puddle of water on the ground, usually under the passenger area don’t be alarmed. This is a normal feature of the system as it is only water dripping from the air conditioning evaporator. The evaporator has a drain tube fitted to allow the condensation from the evaporator to drain away from the vehicle. 6. Excessive moisture inside the car can be fixed easily Sometimes the drain tube from the evaporator may become blocked or detached allowing the condensation to build up inside your evaporator. If this occurs water will just build up inside your car to a point where there are damp carpets or misting / high humidity type problems. These problems can be solved with low-cost servicing. 7. Have your air conditioning serviced regularly, even if there are no visible problems Just as the other systems of your car need servicing on a regular basis, the same is true for the air conditioning system. The compressor needs oil, or else it will seize up. The filter collects debris and moisture. If the filter becomes blocked, then the performance of the system will deteriorate and it can even quit working entirely (probably when you need it most!) Normally the refrigerant gas in a car air conditioning system has to be recharged completely within four years from the manufacture date and thereafter every two to three years. An annual servicing of your car’s air conditioning system will guard against malfunctions in the compressor and other vital parts of the system. Regular maintenance will save you money in the long run and guarantee you comfort in the hottest months.