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Each June, Forklift Safety Day brings the material handling industry together for one common purpose: to improve safety for all individuals operating heavy machinery regularly. It’s a powerful reminder that safety isn’t just a requirement, but the foundation of every successful operation. The day also offers an opportunity to revisit the best practices that keep warehouses running smoothly and workers out of harm’s way.
At the heart of this safety conversation is the equipment itself, and propane-powered forklifts continue to stand out for their ability to deliver both reliable performance and enhanced safety on the job. Proper usage of propane-powered forklifts help protect workers, streamline operations, and sustain business success.
Why Forklift Safety Day is Critical
Forklifts are one of the most commonly used pieces of equipment among warehouses and distribution centers worldwide for good reason, but they can also be dangerous if not used properly. Spearheaded by the Industrial Truck Association, Forklift Safety Day is an important time to recognize and reduce the number of forklift-related injuries nationwide.
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) proudly supports Forklift Safety Day by providing a collection of tools and training materials for forklift operators, supervisors, and fleet managers. These resources, combined with the reliable performance of propane itself, can help busineses both minimize risks and maximize productivity.
For businesses running on propane-powered forklifts, Forklift Safety Day provides an opportunity to take this one step further by assessing fuel-handling procedures and equipment readiness, and utilizing PERC’s resources to do so.
What Makes Propane-Powered Forklifts Safer?
Propane-powered forklifts combine high performance with critical safety benefits, delivering consistent power for both indoor and outdoor use while emitting fewer harmful particulates than diesel. In addition, propane forklifts can be refueled quickly and easily, reducing the need for risky mid-shift charging workarounds that can be common with electric models.
The safety benefits of propane use goes far beyond emissions and runtime, including:
- No battery acid leaks. Unlike electric lift trucks, propane forklifts don’t involve corrosive chemicals during refueling.
- Fast cylinder swaps. Fueling takes minutes, helping to avoid shortcut behaviors that can lead to potential accidents.
- Reliable runtime. Consistent torque and performance minimizes the risk of dropped loads or a loss of control during lifting.
PERC’s Safety Tips
Highlights from PERC’s forklift safety brochure include:
- Buckle Up: It’s simple, but critical. Seatbelts save lives in tip-over scenarios.
- Inspect Before Use: Operators should examine propane cylinders for damage or leaks before every shift.
- Store Cylinders Safely: Cylinders should be kept in well-ventilated racks, upright, and secured to prevent tipping. They should also be protected from sunlight and rain.
- Close Valves When Not in Use: Shutting off service valves helps prevent unintentional fuel leaks.
- Check Pressure Relief Valves: Pressure relief valves should be kept clean, unrestricted, set to the 12 o’clock position, and directed upward at a 45-degree angle when the cylinder is mounted horizontally.
- Set Brakes and Lower Forks When Parked: A stationary forklift should always be left in a safe, neutral position and operators should stop forklifts and set the brake before raising or lowering forks.
- Use Caution on Ramps and Grades: Stability and load security become even more important when navigating inclines. When operators are descending a ramp with a loaded forklift, they should always travel in reverse with the forklift and payload pointed up the grade. When traveling up a ramp with an unloaded forklift, operators should always keep the forks pointed downgrade.
By adopting these practices, companies can align with the Forklift Safety Day theme: “Mission Zero — zero accidents, zero injuries, and zero excuses.” Because even one accident is too many, PERC and the Mission Zero project support material handling professionals on the path to zero forklift accidents. As part of this, PERC offers extensive resources to support propane forklift safety year-round, including:
- A free online forklift safety training program tailored to propane systems.
- A detailed breakdown of OSHA training requirements for forklift operators.
Safety Starts with Fuel, and With You
Forklift Safety Day is an important day, but lasting change comes from making safety part of every shift. Each year, this day is an opportunity to reexamine daily habits, refresh training, and reinforce a culture of safety across material handling operations.
By choosing propane and pairing it with proper training and routine checks, businesses create a work environment where productivity and protection are both top of mind. With propane-powered forklifts, safety isn’t just a feature—it’s built into the way you fuel, operate, and maintain your fleet.
Let Forklift Safety Day be your reminder to take action, share knowledge, and stay committed to safety every day of the year. Visit propane.com/for-my-business/propane-forklift-safety to explore these tools and access shareable materials for your own safety briefings and toolbox talks.
