Quote:
Originally Posted by Boomer
After spending the past 15 minutes reading OSHA rules for forklift safety, it occurred to me it would be easier to ask TOTVers if I was right or wrong in a recent scenario in a big box store. Someone here will know for sure.
Anyway……
I was totally engrossed in looking at plants in the greenhouse section of a big box store.
A forklift appeared, quite close by, in the same aisle as me.
One kid was in front of it waving two flags like some sort of drum major, while another kid was driving the forklift.
(By kid I mean maybe late teens, early 20s.)
They paraded on by.
I was a bit surprised at the lack of clearance that had been between the forklift and me and then I thought….that could not have been right.
Well, never one to pass up a teachable moment  , I went to the spot where the two had stopped the forklift and said — in the kindest, most gentle, supportive, encouraging way possible, “Hey guys, you should totally clear customers out of the way before driving a forklift down an aisle.”
They stared at me blankly.
(That’s the end of the story. Nobody was flattened.)
And, NO, I did not report it to the manager. Geez. I was just making the world a better place in which to live — and maybe saving some other gray-haired gardener who might not have hearing as good as mine. Besides, I was glad to see those kids working. No need for drama on my part.
(I found the “halo rule” but 3 feet does not seem like enough in a public place — and I don’t think the halo was there anyway.)
So? Was I right or was I wrong? Should that aisle have been totally cleared of customers?
Just Curious Boomer |
I think the 3' Halo Rule applies.
Additionally, forklift operators are required to be trained and Certified and Re-Certified every 3 years.
I suspect the "training" these kids got, consisted of someone telling them: "be careful and don't hit anyone".