Safety is very important when it comes to operation of forklifts. Effective communication is a big part of this and it will help maintain a seamless flow of your workplace operations. Tasks can be easily coordinated with proper communication and this will increase productivity of the workplace as well.
Effective communication is covered in forklift certification courses and you need to go through the curriculum carefully to check whether it is comprehensive before you select it. Here, you will learn hand signals and how to convey messages to pedestrians and colleagues in the area that you work. There are universally understood hand signals that can easily ensure that the people in your vicinity understand what you are trying to say. Sometimes, the workplace can be too noisy to communicate verbally and hand signals can get the message through clearly and quickly.
It is also required for forklift operators to have a reliable two way radio system so that they can instantly communicate with other members of their team. The radios can be used to convey important information such as issuing warnings without having to be physically close to the team member. You can also coordinate the movements of the workplace through this method. To ensure the consistency of this communication, it is required to carry out regular radio checks.
You also need to learn how to maintain eye contact in order to convey understanding
For example, a colleague may have used a hand signal to convey a message but you will need to use eye contact in order to confirm that you understand this message or to acknowledge it. This can be coupled with a hand signal of your own so that the effectiveness of communication is improved. There are audible warning devices that forklifts are equipped with. These can be alarms or horns and they are used to alert the people in the vicinity about the presence of this equipment. You need to know when to use these warning devices and how these can be used within the safety guidelines. This will help make pedestrians aware of the movements of the forklift so that they understand how to ensure their safety.
A standardised communication system
Needs to be established within the warehouse you work in so that everyone understands the messages that are conveyed. This will make communication easier as everyone is on the same page. This is a great way to prevent misunderstandings and the work environment can be more cohesive as a result of this. You need to be mindful of the noise level at the warehouse so that you are able to adjust your method of communication to ensure that the instructions are delivered clearly to those in the vicinity. A traffic management system is required when it comes to a large warehouse that has a lot of personnel and multiple forklifts. This will include assigning rules for right of way and having designated pathways. By having clear guidelines for traffic, you can improve the organisation of the workplace.
